The Devil's Surgeon

The De Castello Family

Third Person POV

Several miles away, New York City.

*Smack!*

The sharp crack of a slap shattered the silence inside the east wing of the De Castello estate. Lorenzo's head snapped violently to the side. His jaw clenched as the sting spread across his cheek, the outline of his mother's hand already reddening against his skin.

Across from him, Camilla Romanov stood with heaving breaths, her blue eyes burning with fury. "What were you thinking, ordering a hit on your brother? I raised to you to be anything but foolish."

Lorenzo slowly turned back to face her. Instead of remorse, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "You sound like you actually care about Giovanni, Mother."

Camilla let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Care? My foot." She took another step toward him, lowering her voice. "I'm worried about your father. What if he traces this back to us? What do you think he'll do?"

Lorenzo folded his arms confidently. "He won't. I hired the best hitmen money can buy, and I had them burn the warehouse to the ground. There won't be any evidence."

Camilla stared at him in disbelief. "The best — yet Giovanni escaped." Her voice turned icy. "Do you finally understand why I called you a fool? You acted without thinking." She walked past him, stopping beside the fireplace. "If Giovanni survives, your father won't rest until he finds whoever ordered the attack. And trust me — if he finds out it was you, I won't be able to save you."

Lorenzo's confidence faltered, only slightly.

"He was shot," he said. "He probably must have lost a lot of blood. I doubt he'll make it."

A lazy voice drifted across the room. "Yeah, maybe we're worrying over nothing."

Both of them turned. Leonardo sat comfortably on a leather sofa, one leg crossed over the other, casually flipping a page of the book in his hands. His expression stayed as indifferent as ever.

"He was shot," Leonardo said. "And as we all know, Giovanni isn't immortal. Who knows — he might already be dead."

Camilla studied him quietly. Unlike Lorenzo, Leonardo was the calmer twin, he never acted on impulse. He observed. He calculated. And spoke only when he felt there was something worth saying.

She walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the vast De Castello estate. Morning sunlight poured through the glass, her reflection staring back at her. "I'll believe Giovanni is dead when I see his body."

The room fell silent again. After a long pause, she turned to Lorenzo. "What's done is done. We can't undo it. So we'll make sure it benefits us." She approached him slowly. "While Giovanni is missing, your father will need someone dependable. Someone loyal. Someone worthy." She straightened the collar of his shirt. "This is your opportunity. To be the son your father needs. Prove yourself."

A slow smile spread across Lorenzo's face. "I won't disappoint, mother."

"I certainly hope not." Camilla's expression hardened. "Because there's no chance for failure in this family."

---

Elsewhere, morning sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of an expansive study. Behind an imposing mahogany desk sat Alessandro De Castello. Despite being in his late fifties, time had done little to diminish his commanding presence — silver streaks through his neatly combed black hair, his tailored charcoal suit flawless, his posture alone demanding respect.

A knock sounded.

"Come in."

The heavy doors opened, and Kai Morelli stepped inside before bowing respectfully. "Uncle."

Alessandro didn't immediately look up from the documents before him. "Speak."

Kai nodded. "Our men searched the entire area. The warehouse was burnt to the ground. No trace of the incident, and no sign of Giovanni. We searched the nearby warehouses and still couldn't get a lead."

Only then did Alessandro lift his eyes. "No body?"

"Non, Uncle."

The room became unnervingly quiet. Kai knew better than to speak again. After several moments, Alessandro finally closed the file before him. "You may go."

"Yes, Uncle." Kai bowed once more before quietly leaving the study, the doors clicking shut behind him.

A man seated opposite Alessandro slowly set his teacup onto its saucer. "What if Giovanni is dead?"

Alessandro remained silent, his eyes drifting toward the city skyline beyond the glass. For several long seconds, nothing was said.

Then—

"If Giovanni is dead," he said, his voice calm and cold, "then he was never worthy of becoming my successor."

The man across from him frowned. "He's your son."

Alessandro's expression didn't change. "I did not raise sons to depend on luck. I raised them to survive."

Another silence settled between them. Finally, Alessandro rose from his chair and walked toward the window. "The De Castello name has survived wars, betrayal, and rivers of blood. It will survive one missing heir." He clasped his hands behind his back, and without turning around, gave his final order. "Double the search. I don't care whether Giovanni is alive or dead. Bring him home."

Outside the study, Kai paused after hearing the command. He lowered his head before walking away.