Chapter 6 - A House DividedThe sudden shift in tone did not go unnoticed. Several nearby guests—including rival capos and high-ranking business partners—stopped dancing and began to edge away, sensing the sudden, violent shift in the atmosphere.
"You think a council vote disposes of a Moretti?" Alessandro’s voice was dangerously quiet, carrying a cold menace that commanded the attention of everyone within fifty feet.
At that exact moment, the heavy oak front doors of the mansion banged open with a deafening crash.
Fourteen armed men in tactical gear poured into the marble foyer. But they weren't Luca’s private security detail. They wore the distinct midnight-blue armbands of Alessandro’s elite internal guard—men who answered solely to the boss, completely bypassing the chain of command that Luca had spent two years corrupting.
"Secure the perimeter," commanded a deep, gravelly voice from the lead tactical officer. "No one leaves this estate. Check every exit."
Panic erupted among the guests. Women screamed, socialites scrambled for the side doors, and rival mobsters instinctively reached for concealed sidearms, only to find themselves staring down the barrels of submachine guns held by operators who didn't hesitate.
Luca’s face went chalk white. He lunged for his jacket pocket, reaching for a hidden pistol, but before his fingers could wrap around the grip, Alessandro’s hand shot out like a striking viper. He grabbed Luca by the throat, slamming him against the marble pillar with a force that cracked the decorative stonework.
"You took a bullet for me once, Luca," Alessandro growled, his face inches from his former best friend's terrified eyes. "And I spent fifteen years believing that debt was paid in full. But you forgot one simple rule of the underworld: blood debts never expire, and neither do betrayals."
Luca clawed desperately at Alessandro’s wrist, gasping for air. "Vivian... help me..." he choked out.
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Vivian had already drawn a small, pearl-handled revolver from the hidden pocket of her red silk gown, pointing it directly at Alessandro’s chest. Her hand was steady, her eyes burning with desperate fury.
"Let him go, Alessandro, or I swear to God I will put a bullet through your heart right here in front of everyone."
