Chapter 22 - The Senator’s ShadowThe mention of the name Vance sent an electric shock through the room.

I sat up straight on Dante's lap, my hand instinctively resting on the concealed holster beneath my blazer. "Viktor had a brother? I thought the Vanguard bloodline ended at the docks."
"So did we," Dante muttered, flipping open the manila folder. Inside were crisp photographs, a confidential diplomatic passport, and a formal itinerary embossed with the golden seal of the European Parliament. "Julian Vance isn't a street thug like Viktor. He wears a tailored suit, sits on international trade committees, and controls billions in state-backed investments. He operates in the light, which makes him infinitely more dangerous."
"Why is he coming here?" Marco asked, his brow furrowed in deep concern. "If he wanted revenge for Viktor, he would have sent a strike team, not a diplomatic flight."
"Because he's not here to start a war," Dante said coldly, tossing the folder onto the desk. "He's here to test us. He wants to see if the new Moretti leadership is legitimate or if we're vulnerable."
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I stood up, adjusting my cuffs, my jaw set with a hard, unyielding resolve. "Then we don't hide, and we don't cower. We invite him in through the front gates, offer him a glass of our finest Amarone, and show him exactly who runs this city now."
Dante looked at me, a fierce, glowing pride shining in his dark eyes. He stood up, stepped close, and gently straightened the collar of my blouse. "My queen," he whispered softly, kissing my forehead. "Let's prepare for our guest."