LA'

arly the next mor

hing like the one in Dante's penthouse.

No waking up ne

ht tasted bitter. Like a

. Placed a worn leath

r's," he sa

burned into the cover.

man I never

wanted to touch it. Ho

they died." My voice came

Don't leave a

a long moment. Like he

e. The silence stretched. Only th

y, he

sed to be a p

n the maf

war for years. Territorial disputes. Shipp

. So Alessandro suggested they meet. Neutra

" Tommaso opened the journal

way. Because he'

Even in a wor

go. But my wife had an emergency that nigh

o and thirty men. They just

happ

Tommaso pulled photos

So man

Bullet holes in walls that had stood fo

n't loo

e built his empir

s opened fire first,"

ook cl

photos. Bodies wearing differ

de

re slaughtered

nly son." Tommaso pointed to a youn

ned an ambush, why k

ion hung

ake sense," I

o leaned back. Something

aimed both Sovereign and Vitale territories. While both families were blee

on the cup until my

Of course

er could. But I know D

pages in t

before the meeting. It was meant

ng my father's handwrit

o's silence is suspicious. If anything

rds bl

went anyway because his word

th Anthony. Completely unaware that my

?" I asked. My vo

lead it personally." Tom

ter, the case was closed. Blamed on the Vitales. Matter sett

out more

Caruso accounts

ore the massacre. To

nsactions. Carefully coded but tra

thorize

Tommaso's finger fo

k then. Now Dante's right

rc

Always in the backgro

hout approval. Which meant Da

orde

expression

. Right after Giovanni died of a convenient heart

nte killed hi

boy inherited an empire built

ed all threats in one night. Conve

ion. Take the pow

ante and his father. Just a young

rpse. Had controlled my father's ports. Used my f

fteen

ped against concrete. I walked t

right. Built on m

e, Tomma

a normal life for m

life." His vo

Anthony at birth. She wanted you s

rehead against

. And I married the

'm her

d to fa

ritory. Every alliance. Every piece of

smiled

pe you're ready to become

rea

been ready since I f

he window. Looking at my re

ed back. Someon

Too trusting. Isabel

terrupted

without waitin

" He tossed an enve

t with sha

a single

together at a bar. One I didn't recognize. The

is t

ped it

An eye for an eye. Your father

oat we

sent

s jaw cl

till alive. Still griev

nks you're

No n

derstand. You're not just f

hoto. At the young man

is

lence was an

ng family. And Lore

s he?" I

n in the

rywhere. If he finds out you've resurfac

nyone with So

es

ly. My hands steady despite

ed up for. This is

ove faster

Strike before

Dan

served my father. Who'd waited fifteen

to take something that doesn't b

ll beg for the mercy he

fronts now. Dante.

sandro Soverei

uld burn