They reached the observation deck just as Salvatore emerged from the stairs, his gun aimed at the other bosses. "One more step," he said, "and I'll kill them all."
Alessandro stopped, his leg throbbing. "Let them go, Salvatore," he said. "It's over. You're outnumbered."
Salvatore laughed. "Outnumbered? I have dozens of men outside. You'll never get out of here alive."
But just then, the sound of more gunfire echoed through the base. Isabella had moved from the ridge and was fighting her way inside, bringing reinforcements—men from Alessandro's old crew who'd heard about the plan and come to help.
"The game's over, Salvatore," Enzo said, his gun aimed at him. "Give up."
Salvatore's grin faded. He looked from Enzo to Alessandro, then to Clara. "You think you've won?" he said. "You think this is the end?"
He pulled out a remote control from his pocket. "This base is rigged with explosives," he said. "In five minutes, it's going to blow. You can either die here with me, or let me go—and I'll disarm the bomb."
Alessandro's eyes widened. "You're bluffing."
"Am I?" Salvatore said, pressing a button on the remote. A timer appeared on a screen behind him—four minutes, fifty-nine seconds. "Tick-tock."
The other bosses panicked, trying to run for the stairs. But guards blocked their way.
"Choose," Salvatore said. "Me—or all of you."
Clara stepped forward, her eyes calm. "Let the bosses go," she said. "Then we'll talk."
Salvatore hesitated, then nodded. "Fine," he said. "Guards, let them pass."
The bosses ran down the stairs, stumbling in their haste. Salvatore looked at Clara. "Now," he said. "Let me go."
But just as he started to back towards the stairs, Enzo moved. He lunged at Salvatore, knocking the remote out of his hand. They wrestled on the floor, each trying to grab the remote.
"Get the remote!" Enzo shouted.
Alessandro limped forward, grabbed the remote, and pressed the disarm button. The timer stopped—thirty seconds left.
Salvatore pushed Enzo off him and pulled out a knife, lunging at Clara. Alessandro fired his Beretta, hitting Salvatore in the chest. He fell to the floor, his eyes wide with shock, and went still.
It was over.