Chapter 13 - the showdown begins
Julian’s laughter echoed through the damp stone cellar, cold and hollow.
"You really were blind, Victor!" Julian sneered, wincing against the pain in his jaw. "You thought Clara was an innocent angel! You thought she was just a dutiful Mafia wife!"
Victor tightened his grip on Julian’s collar. "Talk!"
"Clara was the one who planned the entire dock expansion thirty years ago!" Julian revealed, his eyes burning with malice. "She was the true mind behind our father’s syndicate! When she realized you were too honorable to do what was necessary to conquer the five families, she faked her illness with Vance's help!"
Celeste looked up from the corner, her face pale with shock. "Julian... what are you talking about?"
"Shut up, Celeste!" Julian snapped. He turned back to Victor. "Clara didn't run away to hide, Victor. She ran away to build a new syndicate in Europe! She used Sal Moretti, she used me, and she used Celeste to keep you distracted in New York while she bought up every shipping lane in the Mediterranean!"
Victor’s expression remained terrifyingly composed, but inside, every foundation of his past eight years was breaking apart.
"Where is she now?" Victor demanded.
"She’s coming back to New York," Julian grinned darkly. "Her plane landed at JFK thirty minutes ago. She’s coming to claim her daughters."
Victor let go of Julian, letting him slump back onto the wooden bench. He turned to Marco.
"Put Julian and Celeste in federal transport vans," Victor commanded. "Hand them over to the U.S. Marshals along with Sal. Season 1 of this war is over."
"And what about Clara, Boss?" Marco asked, holding his sidearm ready.
Victor turned toward the cellar door, his face resolving into pure steel. "Bring Ellie and Mia upstairs to the master living room. Secure the entire perimeter of the estate with thirty men."
"Yes, Don Victor."
Ten minutes later, the main hall of the Moretti estate was locked down under maximum security. Thirty heavily armed guards lined the perimeter fence. The traitors—Julian, Celeste, and Sal Moretti—were in federal custody, their coup utterly destroyed, their power crushed.
Victor stood in the grand living room, holding both Ellie and Mia close to his sides.
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The immediate threat to his family was resolved. His empire was secure. His legitimacy as Don was absolute. Justice had been delivered to every person who had sought to harm his children.
Then, the heavy front doors of the mansion slowly swung open.
