Chapter 6
Conrad did not leave the estate quietly.
He waited in the front hall while Miriam argued with my guards.
When I came downstairs, he looked furious.
“You’re humiliating us over a toy.”
“No.”
I looked at Miriam.
“I’m removing people who frightened my son on purpose.”
She laughed.
“Temporary emotion.”
I stared.
“He is three.”
“He’ll forget.”
That sentence nearly ended my patience.
Instead, I kept my voice low.
“Maybe.”
Then I pointed toward Nathan.
“But he’ll remember what you taught him.”
Conrad looked at his son.
For the first time, uncertainty appeared.
I pressed it.
“You taught Nathan that he gains when Eli loses.”
Silence.
“You taught him that older means more deserving.”
No answer.
“You taught him that threatening a smaller child proves strength.”
Nathan looked at the floor.
Conrad saw it.
Good.
Miriam interrupted.
“This is how families survive.”
I turned.
“No.”
She frowned.
“This is how families become enemies before they are old enough to understand why.”
That landed.
One of the bodyguards opened the front door.
Miriam did not move.
“So you ban me?”
“For now.”
“You cannot remove me from Ravello.”
“I’m removing you from my house.”
She stared.
Different thing.
Important.
Conrad stepped toward me.
“What about my position?”
“You keep it.”
He looked surprised.
“Why?”
“Because I’m not turning family discipline into a purge.”
That mattered.
He wanted a battle.
Miriam wanted a martyr.
I gave them neither.
“But,” I continued, “you do not bring Nathan into meetings. You do not discuss Eli’s future with capos. And you do not teach either child that Ravello belongs to whichever one hurts the other first.”
Conrad’s jaw tightened.
“You’re afraid Nathan might be better.”
I almost smiled.
“No.”
May you like
I looked toward the stairs.
“I’m afraid you’re teaching him to measure himself by destroying someone he loves.”
