Chapter 17
Dante was brought into the center of the room, held by two armed guards. He looked worse for wear, his arrogance crumbling under the united, hostile gazes of his former peers.
"Gentlemen," Vincent addressed the council, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "Dante Moretti has committed the ultimate betrayal against our bloodline and our organization. He traded our territory, embezzled our funds, and conspired with our sworn enemies. The penalty for such treason is clear."
The capos nodded in silent agreement, their hands resting flat on the table.
"Wait!" Dante yelled, his voice cracking with desperation as he turned to Vincent. "You think I wanted to kill Sofia? I never wanted her dead, Vincent! The Cassanos were supposed to hold her as leverage to force you into granting them the western shipping routes! They were never supposed to hurt her!"
Vincent walked down from the head of the table, stopping inches from his brother. "Where did they take her, Dante? Tell me now, or I will hand you over to Marco for the next forty-eight hours."
Dante swallowed hard, his eyes darting frantically around the room. "They took her to an orphanage facility near the border in St. Gallen... under a false name! Silvio Cassano kept her alive as an ultimate bargaining chip in case our truce ever broke down! She's alive, Vincent! I swear on our father's grave, she's alive!"
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Vincent felt as though the floor beneath him had vanished. The room spun with the weight of seven years of unearned grief. He stared at his brother, trying to discern whether this was Dante’s final, desperate ploy to save his own life, or the truth he had prayed for every night of his life.
Vincent slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out the third gold coin—the coin Ellie had given back to him earlier that morning. He looked down at the polished metal, feeling its cool weight against his skin.
