Chapter 8 - The Price of Loyalty
The heavy vault door swung open to reveal Clara huddled in the corner, clutching a crying Elena tightly to her chest.
When Clara saw Vincenzo covered in blood, she let out a choked sob and ran toward him.
"You're hurt," she cried, her hands trembling as she touched the deep cut on his shoulder.
"I'm fine, it's over," he assured her, pulling both her and Elena into a fierce, protective embrace.
"The estate is secure, my men are cleaning up the mess."
He escorted them back upstairs, ensuring they did not look at the bodies littering the grand foyer.
The surviving Romano soldiers had either been killed or captured and dragged down to the interrogation rooms.
Vincenzo left Clara and Elena in the care of his private physician while he went to address his men.
He walked into the grand parlor, where his top lieutenants were waiting for orders.
"Marco was the traitor," Vincenzo announced, his voice echoing coldly off the walls.
"He sold our security codes to the Romanos for a piece of the north side."
The men murmured in shocked anger, realizing how close they had come to total destruction.
"Let tonight be a final warning to anyone who questions my leadership or my choices," Vincenzo declared, wiping a smear of blood from his cheek.
"The Romanos crossed a line they cannot uncross."
"By tomorrow morning, I want the head of the Romano family delivered to my desk, and their entire operation burned to ash."
His men nodded in grim agreement, the loyalty in the room stronger than it had ever been.
Vincenzo had proven he was not soft; he was deadlier than ever because he had a reason to fight.
May you like
He dismissed them and walked slowly back to the master suite, the adrenaline finally fading from his veins.
He was the undisputed king of Chicago, but all he wanted right now was the quiet comfort of Clara's touch.
