Chapter 8 - the council's decree
The central council chamber of the Moretti estate was an imposing room lined with high stained-glass windows, dark oak paneling, and a massive oval table where twelve syndicate elders sat in heavy high-backed chairs.
When Victor stepped through the double doors, accompanied by Marcus, the elders stood up out of absolute respect.
Victor took his place at the head of the long table, his tall, broad frame commanding complete authority over the room.
"Gentlemen," Victor spoke, his voice deep, calm, and absolute. "Tonight, an attempt was made on my home and my family by Celeste Moretti and Dominic Vance."
The senior elder, an eighty-year-old man named Don Carmine, leaned forward, resting his hands on his silver-topped cane. "We have heard the reports, Victor. Vance tried to alter the family succession by force."
"Vance is currently in our lower detention cell," Victor reported flatly. "His syndicate assets in the city have been seized as of one hour ago. The Vance family no longer holds any territory in Baltimore."
The elders nodded in silent approval.
"And Celeste?" Don Carmine asked.
"Celeste has been permanently stripped of all Moretti family titles, assets, and trust funds," Victor declared. "She will be exiled to our private estate in Sicily under permanent security supervision. She will never return to the United States."
Don Carmine looked down at a thick legal document resting on the table. "And the question of Julian's boy... little Eddie. What is the council's position on his succession?"
Victor leaned forward, resting his broad palms on the polished wood, his dark eyes sweeping over every elder in the room with frightening intensity.
"Eddie is Julian's biological son," Victor stated clearly. "And by my decree, he is legally adopted as my primary son and sole heir. He will inherit full voting control of the Moretti holdings when he comes of age."
Don Carmine looked at the other eleven elders. One by one, the elders raised their right hands in unanimous agreement.
"So it is written," Don Carmine announced heavily. "The bloodline remains unbroken."
Victor stood up, offering a respectful nod to the elders, before turning to leave the chamber. But as he reached the door, Don Carmine called out one last time.
May you like
"Victor... what of the secondary vault in Switzerland?" the old man asked softly. "Julian left something else inside that safe... something that was never recorded on the official manifest."
Victor paused at the door, his jaw tightening slightly. "That matter will be handled when the time is right."
