After hearing the other party's explanation, Tony collapsed into a chair, disbelief etched on his face. It was clear why the private doctor had the audacity to demand a price of one hundred thousand dollars for a kill.
This was a scandal that threatened to shake the very foundations of the world!
If the news got out, the Apple family would be finished. His son would seek revenge, leading to a rift between father and son, and Bradley might even resort to public displays of anger.
Tony was clearly not as composed as Sean had assumed; he was still naive in many respects.
There's a saying: "Good news travels slowly, but bad news spreads like wildfire." This couldn't be more accurate, regardless of whether it's a rabbit or an eagle.
The report about the private doctor associated with the Apple family spread rapidly. Soon, all the major families within the Dimeo Group were left stunned. The public's imagination ran wild, and within just a few hours, dozens of rumors had emerged, each more outlandish than the last.
However, the heads of the major families in the Dimio criminal organization had no time to revel in the gossip. They all believed that Acomo Apple had sent someone to kill the Soprano family.
One family was the head of the group, while the other was the second most powerful. The Soprano family would not sit idly by, and Acomo Apple wouldn't simply allow them to seek revenge without a response.
A confrontation loomed.
In terms of sheer strength, the Apple family had the upper hand and more supporters. But with internal strife brewing, Acomo Apple's first priority was to manage his son, who was suffering from advanced liver cancer.
With chaos within and his health deteriorating, the Apple family's power was inevitably weakened. This set the stage for a potentially explosive showdown within the Dimeo Group.
At that moment, Acomo Apple was too overwhelmed to consider the external turmoil. His daughter-in-law, aware of the leaked news, stood before him in tears, her excitement from earlier now replaced by distress.
Meanwhile, his subordinates informed him that Bradley had caught wind of the news and was on his way back.
Acomo was lost in thought when the sound of brakes screeched outside. A blond man burst through the door, fury etched across his face.
"Master, wait! Master…" As soon as Bradley arrived, someone rushed to stop him. Despite his reluctance, he had to face the situation head-on.
"Get out of my way!" Bradley shouted, his eyes blazing. He drew his gun and aimed it at the person blocking him. "Move, now!"
If he had even a sliver of restraint left, he would have pulled the trigger.
"Calm down!" the man said, startled but determined.
"Calm down?!" Bradley yelled, swinging the butt of his gun at the man's forehead. The impact sent the man crashing to the ground, blood spilling from his injury.
The man didn't evade the blow; instead, he succumbed to the dizziness and collapsed.
"Take his gun away!" Acomo Apple shouted from the villa's hall, gritting his teeth. He couldn't let his son bring a weapon into the house; Bradley was far more likely to use it.
With Acomo's command, several people rushed in. Just as Bradley prepared to shoot again, someone grabbed his arm, causing the bullet to fire harmlessly into the air.
In a fit of rage, Bradley stormed into the villa, his gaze darting between his sobbing wife and his weary father, who sat on the sofa.
"Is it true?!" Acomo Apple demanded, his voice filled with urgency.
Acomo wanted to deny it, but with medical reports confirming the situation, he knew the truth was unavoidable.
Seeing his wife in tears and his father silent, Bradley erupted in anger, charging at Acomo.
"What are you doing? Do you want to kill me too?" Acomo glared at his son, his authoritative presence momentarily overpowering Bradley's fury. Acomo had ruled the criminal organization for over a decade, and his anger commanded respect, momentarily quieting Bradley.
"Listen to me, I didn't send any killers! Someone is plotting against our Dimeo Group!" Acomo shouted, desperate to make his son understand.
"So what? What does that change for me?" Bradley screamed, his face twisted in agony. He felt utterly defeated, humiliated by the thought that everyone believed he had been overshadowed by his father.
Acomo fell silent, overwhelmed by pain. After a moment, he sank back onto the sofa, weakly gesturing for his son to be taken upstairs. "Take him upstairs to rest. Don't let him out without my permission."
"Your days are numbered, Acomo! You'll pay for this—you're a devil!" Bradley cursed, struggling as two men carried him away.
On the first floor, Acomo listened to the sounds of destruction coming from above, clutching his stomach as it began to ache again. He closed his eyes and sat motionless on the sofa.
He was at a loss about how the news had leaked or who had killed the doctor, but he sensed that this was just the beginning. There would be more to come, and he couldn't afford to let Bradley out of his sight. He had no idea who their true enemy was or who might be the next target.
Acomo took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He needed to find a way to convince Tony Soprano that he had not orchestrated the hit. But empty reassurances wouldn't suffice; he needed to uncover the truth behind these events, even if it meant digging into a murky past.
...
Meanwhile, in a different part of town, Squad No. 1 was already in position. Bill turned to Sean and said, "We're ready."
"Then inform teams No. 2 and No. 3 to initiate their operations as soon as No. 1 makes a move," Sean instructed.
"Got it."
...
The target's vehicle was approaching, and the first silver car was in sight. Three operatives were hidden in an inconspicuous car parked by the roadside, and the airwaves crackled to life.
"Copy that!" one of the operatives responded.
As the two cars drew closer, Tony Soprano sat in one of them, eyes closed, deep in thought. He contemplated many pressing issues: the possible responses from Acomo Apple, the opinions of other families in the group, and how he might avenge his nephew. He was acutely aware of the chain reaction that could follow from these unfolding events.
In an instant, as the two cars passed each other, the door of the parked vehicle swung open. Two black muzzles emerged, aimed squarely at Tony's car, and a hail of gunfire erupted.
Within seconds, the car was riddled with bullets. Blood sprayed across the glass, and the vehicle spiraled out of control, careening off the road.
The chaos had begun, and the stakes were higher than ever. Each family was about to realize the implications of their actions, and the ensuing conflict could engulf the entire Dimeo Group in a battle for power and survival.