Chapter 7
Vincent ascended the stairs from the basement, leaving the grim reality of the interrogation behind him. As he stepped back into the grand, beautifully appointed hallways of the main estate, the bright, cinematic lighting felt almost jarring compared to the darkness below. He adjusted his tie, his handsome, movie-star features set into a mask of pure, calculating ice.
He pulled his encrypted smartphone from his pocket and dialed a secure number.
"Marcus," Vincent said as his second-in-command answered.
"Yes, Boss. We have cleared the remaining guests. The perimeter is locked down," Marcus reported, his American accent crisp and efficient.
"Assemble the loyal capos in the war room," Vincent commanded, his deep voice leaving no room for questions. "Dominic has confessed to treason. He conspired with the Lupertazzi family to orchestrate a coup. They have been shipping weapons into the city."
A heavy silence hung on the line for a fraction of a second before Marcus responded. "Understood, Vincent. We will prepare for a defensive stance."
"We are not defending," Vincent corrected smoothly, a dangerous, lethal edge creeping into his tone. "We are striking first. I want the eastern docks raided. Any man loyal to Dominic is to be detained or eliminated. Find the Lupertazzi weapons and seize them."
"Right away, Boss," Marcus confirmed.
Vincent ended the call and walked briskly toward his third-floor private study. The heavy steel door was still locked. He knocked out the specific rhythm he had established earlier.
The deadbolt clicked, and Emma opened the door. Her professional housekeeper uniform was slightly wrinkled, but her posture was strong. She looked up at Vincent, her bright blue eyes searching his face for answers.
"Is he safe?" Vincent asked quietly, looking past her into the warmly lit room.
"He is sleeping, Mr. Moretti," Emma replied softly, stepping aside to let him enter.
Leo was fast asleep on the plush sofa, curled securely around his teddy bear. The steady, rhythmic rise and fall of his small chest was the most beautiful thing Vincent had ever seen. The overpowering surge of paternal love mixed violently with the adrenaline of the impending war.
"You extracted the truth?" Emma asked, closing the heavy steel door behind them.
"I did," Vincent nodded, walking over to his mahogany desk. He unlocked the bottom drawer and pulled out a heavy, matte-black suppressed pistol. He checked the magazine with a sharp, metallic click before holstering it inside his tailored suit jacket. "Dominic was planning to overthrow me. He used my son to manufacture weakness."
Emma’s fair, rosy skin paled as she realized the magnitude of the conspiracy. "What happens now?"
"Now, we purge the poison from our house," Vincent stated, looking directly into her eyes. "The men loyal to Dominic will panic when they realize he has been taken. They may attempt to strike the estate to rescue him or eliminate my heir. You cannot stay in this room."
"Where do we go?" Emma asked, her voice trembling slightly, though she stood her ground bravely.
"Behind that bookcase is a reinforced panic room," Vincent explained, pointing to the massive mahogany shelving unit against the far wall. "It is supplied with food, water, and direct communication to my loyalists. You will take Leo inside. You will lock the vault door, and you will not open it until you hear my voice. Do you understand, Emma?"
"I understand," Emma nodded, her jaw setting with determination. She walked over to the sofa and gently scooped the sleeping three-year-old into her arms. Leo stirred slightly, murmuring in his sleep, but settled quickly against her chest.
Vincent walked over to the bookcase, pressing a hidden switch. With a heavy, hydraulic hiss, the shelving unit slid open, revealing a thick steel vault door. He entered the passcode, and the door swung wide, revealing the safe room inside.
"Emma," Vincent said softly as she stepped into the vault with his son. "Thank you. For protecting him when I was blind."
"He is a good boy, Mr. Moretti," Emma whispered. "He deserves a father who fights for him."
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"He has one," Vincent swore.
He watched as the heavy steel door closed, the locking mechanisms engaging with a definitive, impenetrable clank. His family was safe. Now, the veteran Mafia Boss was free to unleash absolute hell upon anyone who dared to threaten them.
