Future Self’s Deadly Game

Lorenzo must have floored the gas pedal the whole way here.

He stared at the silver-plated Colt revolver gleaming coldly in its case, his eyes filled with a raw, naked greed.

"Sienna, my dear sister, this was grandfather's sidearm." He stroked the ivory grip. "Are you serious? You'd really let me touch this?"

"Brother, you made it. Here, see how it feels." I gave Lorenzo's shoulder a small push and held the gun case out to him.

The moment Lorenzo's hand closed around the grip and he felt its heavy weight, his eyes lit up.

He kept muttering to himself, "A masterpiece. A goddamn masterpiece."

Seeing how he couldn't put it down, and remembering the mangled state he was in during my past life, I pushed the gun into his hands.

"What's the catch, Sienna?" He was a bit stunned.

I smiled brightly. "It's yours, Lorenzo."

"Go and conquer that underground dueling ring. That old Glock of yours, the one that's always jamming, isn't worthy of the future Don of the Moretti family."

Lorenzo looked a little embarrassed, but his hand never stopped stroking the weapon.

"This was your inheritance. It doesn't seem right for you to give it to me."

"We're family. No need to be so formal."

"Besides, a gun like this belongs in the hands of a true warrior, doesn't it?"

Only then did he accept my offer, tucking the legendary revolver into his waistband and leaving in high spirits.

I watched his back disappear into the night and let out a long breath.

The new gun was perfectly maintained, its mechanics flawless. It wouldn't jam this time.

However, fate is a gambler with a sick sense of humor.

Just two hours later, an emergency call from the family's private hospital shattered the silence of the night.

"Is this Miss Sienna? Your brother was just in an accident at the dueling ring. Please come immediately."

"Impossible." The whiskey glass in my hand froze mid-air. "That was grandfather's gun. It's flawless."

"Please come at once. The situation is... extremely critical."

When I arrived at the hospital, my head spun. I didn't understand. Why was Lorenzo still hurt? I had stopped him from using that piece of junk, so how could there be another accident?

"What happened to my brother?" I asked anxiously.

The sharp crack of a slap echoed.

My sister-in-law, Sofia, her hair a mess, heard my voice and charged at me like a madwoman. "It was you! You're the curse that killed him!"

Several bodyguards struggled to pull her away, but she continued to scream hysterically.

"If Lorenzo hadn't taken that legendary pistol, he never would have aimed for a deathmatch of that level! You baited him into a death match!"

"He doesn't have our grandfather's skills as a marksman! He took a superior weapon and got himself killed on the draw! You did this on purpose!"

I stood frozen, a ringing in my ears.

The attending doctor took off his blood-soaked gloves and walked over, his expression grim.

"As the young madam said... the young master was too reliant on the gun's power. He was a half second too slow on the draw, and his opponent put a bullet straight through his heart."

"He was covered in blood, his face unrecognizable. We were only able to identify Lorenzo because of the revolver he was still clutching, the one engraved with the family crest."

"With his old gun, he never would have dared to take that bet. At worst, he would have gotten beaten and thrown out, but he'd still be alive..."

The world spun around me, and I slowly slid down the cold wall to the floor.

I thought that by keeping my brother from using his old, broken gun, I could save him.

But now, because I had insisted he have the best weapon, he had been shot and killed on the spot.

No matter what I chose, Lorenzo was destined to fall in a pool of his own blood in that duel.

Was I too arrogant? Had I personally sent my brother to his death a second time?

A heavy hand rested on my shoulder. Even now, my father maintained the stern authority of the Don.

"This isn't your fault, Sienna. You only wanted the best for him."

My mother pulled me into her arms, comforting me. "Don't cry, baby. The best doctors are all here. Lorenzo is strong, he'll pull through."

I sobbed in my mother's arms, completely broken.

Afraid I would drown in guilt, my parents took care of me day and night, constantly checking on how I was doing.

I felt the warmth of my family, and my mood gradually began to improve.

I suddenly remembered that this was how it was in my last life, too. The phone was about to warn me to be wary of my parents' actions.

I didn't even press the answer button, but the call connected automatically.

"Sienna, I'm heartbroken about Lorenzo's injury too, but this is not your fault."

"Trust me, don't drink that wine. They've drugged it. They're going to strap you to an operating table and cut out your heart for that good-for-nothing brother of yours."