CHAPTER 9 — “The Mafia King Chose Love Over His Empire”
The hospital security footage ended in static.
For a long moment, nobody spoke.
Dominic simply stared at the black screen.
His pulse slowed.
His breathing steadied.
The colder he became...
The more terrified his enemies should have been.
Victor looked at him carefully.
"I've seen that look before."
Dominic slipped his pistol back into its holster.
"He isn't running."
Victor frowned.
"No."
"Enzo wants me to follow."
"He wants the final battle."
Silas called through Dominic's encrypted earpiece.
"Boss, we've recovered another transmission."
Dominic answered immediately.
"Play it."
Enzo's voice filled the line.
"Come home, Dominic."
"Come back to Chicago."
"Bring every soldier you have."
"Let's decide who deserves to carry the Valente name."
The transmission ended.
Then a GPS location appeared.
Valente Manor.
The place where Dominic had grown up.
The place where his father had died.
The place where everything had begun.
Twelve hours later...
A convoy of black armored SUVs crossed into Chicago.
But Dominic wasn't leading an army.
To Carlo's shock, only eight vehicles followed him.
"Boss," Carlo said. "Half our captains are waiting for your orders. We can bring three hundred men."
Dominic shook his head.
"No."
"They're expecting a war."
"So we won't give them one."
Victor looked at him.
"What are you planning?"
Dominic stared through the windshield at the distant skyline.
"For twenty-five years Enzo has fed this city with fear."
"I'm going to starve him."
Inside Valente Manor...
Meline slowly opened her eyes.
Her wrists weren't tied.
Her room was elegant.
A fire burned in the fireplace.
Fresh flowers stood beside the bed.
She looked down.
Her baby was still safe.
The door opened.
Enzo Moretti entered carrying a tray of soup.
He smiled warmly.
"Good."
"The doctors said you would wake today."
Meline stared at him with hatred.
"You kidnapped me."
Enzo calmly sat across from her.
"I rescued you."
She laughed bitterly.
"From Dominic?"
"From the life that would destroy your child."
Enzo leaned forward.
"Do you know why I never killed Dominic?"
She said nothing.
"Because he loves too deeply."
"A man who loves deeply..."
"...always chooses the wrong thing."
Meline narrowed her eyes.
"What does that mean?"
Enzo smiled.
"When he arrives tonight..."
"...I'll ask him one simple question."
That evening...
The massive iron gates of Valente Manor slowly opened.
Dominic walked inside.
Alone.
No bodyguards.
No weapons visible.
Only silence.
Enzo stood waiting in the grand ballroom.
Meline sat several feet away under the watch of armed guards.
She gasped softly.
"Dominic..."
He looked at her first.
Only her.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
"No."
Relief briefly crossed his face.
Then Enzo clapped slowly.
"You came exactly as I expected."
Dominic's voice was calm.
"Let her go."
Enzo smiled.
"Of course."
"But first..."
He snapped his fingers.
Two guards dragged another man into the ballroom.
His hands were chained.
His face bruised.
His eyes...
Looked exactly like Dominic's.
Meline froze.
Carlo whispered,
"My God..."
The stranger looked directly at Dominic.
"I've waited my whole life to meet my little brother."
May you like
Gabriel Moretti.
The real firstborn son of Alessandro Valente.
