Chapter 10
The elder review happened anyway.
My decision.
Graham had wanted one as a weapon.
I wanted one under daylight.
Six older capos attended.
Lorenzo sat in the Founders’ Seat for the first time in twelve years.
That image did strange things to me.
My dead father.
Alive.
Sitting where everyone assumed a ghost belonged.
I remained at the head.
Good.
Nobody confused roles.
I began simply.
“Who wanted this review?”
Four hands.
Not six.
Interesting.
“Why?”
One elder, Thomas Vale, answered.
“Too much change too quickly.”
“Examples.”
“Staff bypassing capos.”
“Donor influence.”
“Younger captains.”
“Public philanthropy.”
I nodded.
Real concerns.
Not betrayal.
“Anything about Lucas?”
Silence.
Graham looked at Evelyn.
She looked away.
Thomas frowned.
“No.”
Interesting.
The child had been used inside the conspiracy without most elders knowing.
I looked at Lorenzo.
“Your turn.”
He spoke slowly.
“The Founders’ Seat has no authority to remove Rafael.”
Several men shifted.
Apparently Graham had implied otherwise.
Lorenzo continued.
“It exists to challenge without war.”
That mattered.
“Today I challenge the challengers.”
Graham stiffened.
My father looked at him.
“If your argument required hiding me, threatening a child, locking employees in walls, and frightening a caretaker, then you were not protecting tradition.”
Silence.
“You were protecting your ability to control the review.”
That landed.
Thomas stared at Graham.
“You told us Lorenzo was dead.”
Graham snapped:
“He was.”
Lorenzo almost smiled.
Technically amusing.
Then Evelyn spoke.
“He abandoned the family. His claim should be void.”
I looked at my father.
Pain.
Fair.
The elder council murmured.
For once, I did not intervene.
This was his consequence.
He wanted the symbolic seat.
He had to answer for disappearing.
Thomas asked:
“Why should we recognize a man who let his son bury him?”
Lorenzo stared at me.
Then answered:
“You should not, unless Rafael chooses to.”
The room became still.
May you like
Good.
He finally stopped deciding for me.
