Chapter 28
The eradication of the old estate marked the final, irrefutable shift in the balance of power. The national underworld recognized that Vincent Caruso had achieved absolute, uncontested dominance. He had purged his own bloodline, slaughtered the New York Commission, and crushed international interference. The Caruso syndicate was now a monolithic, perfectly oiled machine that controlled the eastern seaboard with terrifying efficiency. Inside the new fortress, the atmosphere was one of sophisticated, untouchable peace. The bright, cinematic sunlight poured through the towering windows of the grand dining room. Clara sat at the massive marble table, happily eating a plate of fresh fruit, her rosy skin glowing with health and innocence. Vincent walked into the room, his movie-star handsome face entirely relaxed. The imposing, dangerous aura of the warlord receded, replaced by the profound, overwhelming love of a devoted father. "Daddy, look!" Clara cheered, holding up a crayon drawing of the three of them. Vincent smiled, a genuine, warm expression that erased the harsh lines of his angular jaw. Evelyn walked through the heavy oak doors, wearing a stunning formal dress, her elegance completely unmatched. The family was whole, and their enemies were reduced to nothing but ash and memory.
