Chương 8 - the tribunal of blood
The grand ballroom of the Chicago Plaza Hotel was filled with thirty senior syndicate leaders and elder bosses from across the Midwest. Heavy crystal chandeliers lit the long mahogany table, where the high council assembled once every five years to settle territory disputes.
Sitting at the head of the table was Ryan Vane, his posture regal, dark, and imposing in his black suit. Sitting to his right was Emily, dressed in a sophisticated dark velvet dress, holding the hands of Maya and Lily, who wore matching pale-pink dresses with ribbons in their hair.
Standing at the foot of the table, flanked by four armed guards, was Victor Valenti—the ruthless, sixty-year-old rival boss. Valenti's face was dark with rage, his tailored suit disheveled, his hands bound in steel handcuffs.
Don Carmine, the eighty-five-year-old senior patriarch of the Midwest council, struck his heavy wooden gavel against the table.
"The evidence presented by Don Ryan Vane is absolute," Carmine announced, his raspy voice echoing through the silent hall. "Victor Valenti engaged in unauthorized assassination, extortion against family bloodlines, and high treason against the council charter."
Carmine looked down at Valenti with cold disdain. "Under article one of our founding laws, Victor Valenti is stripped of his territory, his wealth, and his status forever."
Valenti spat on the floorboards, glaring at Ryan with bitter hatred. "You think you've won, Vane?! That brat doesn't give you the right to hold the European trust!"
Ryan stood up slowly from his seat at the head of the table. His towering broad frame, dark presence, and terrifyingly calm demeanor instantly silenced the entire room.
Ryan reached into his jacket, pulling out a sealed parchment document stamped with the official seal of the Illinois State Supreme Court.
"As of 2:00 PM today, Victor," Ryan announced, his deep voice carrying an authority like thunder, "Maya Vane is officially my legal daughter. The European trust is fully locked under my guardianship, and your family's assets have been seized by federal authorities."
Gasps rippled through the gathered elder bosses.
May you like
Valenti's face went completely pale, his eyes wide in raw, absolute defeat as federal agents stepped into the ballroom, clicking heavy iron cuffs around his wrists and dragging him away into the dark forever.
Don Carmine stood up, bowing his head respectfully toward Ryan, Emily, and the two little girls. "Honor to the Vane family. The bloodline endures."
