Chapter 6 - The Midnight Exchange
By two o'clock the following afternoon, Victor had returned to the Bellandi estate in New York, bringing Leo safely into the private residential wing.
The reunion between the twins was an emotional wave that swept through the entire mansion. Eight-year-old Ellie and nine-year-old Leo stood in the sunlit living room, staring at each other in wide-eyed wonder. Their shared features—the soft dark hair, the fair rosy skin, the observant brown eyes—were identical.
Ellie ran forward, throwing her small arms around her brother's neck. Leo hesitated for a fraction of a second, then wrapped his arms around her, a bright, radiant smile breaking across his face.
Victor stood near the fireplace, watching his two children with a profound, quiet warmth that wiped away eight years of darkness.
Marcus stepped into the room, holding a high-tech satellite phone.
"Boss," Marcus reported quietly. "The Council of Nine has officially convened at the Grand Plaza Hotel downtown for the midnight inheritance summit. Every major syndicate boss in North America is in attendance."
"Is Celeste still in our holding cell?" Victor asked.
"Yes, Boss. But her attorneys just filed an emergency motion with the Council, claiming that you kidnapped both heirs to prevent a legal audit."
Victor’s jaw set like iron. He stepped over to his children, kneeling down beside them.
"Ellie, Leo," Victor said gently, his deep voice filled with absolute authority and protection. "Tonight, we go to the Grand Plaza Hotel. We are going to show the whole world who the true heirs of this family are."
"Will the bad men be there, Daddy?" Ellie asked softly.
May you like
"The bad men will be handled, sweetheart," Victor promised, kissing both their foreheads.
He stood up, looking at Marcus. "Prepare the full executive convoy. We ride to Manhattan at ten o'clock."
