Chapter 13 - THE PARLEY IN THE VAULTThe underground vault room was carved directly out of the bedrock beneath the estate, lit by massive iron chandeliers that cast long, dancing shadows against the stone walls.
Vance stood in the center of the room, looking entirely too comfortable in his tailored grey suit. When the heavy oak doors swung open, he didn't flinch at Matteo’s presence. But the moment Bruno stepped across the threshold—eighty kilograms of silent, black-coated muscle, his amber eyes locked squarely on Vance’s throat—the visitor’s composure fractured. A thin film of sweat beaded on Vance's forehead.
"Your dog sheds, Moretti," Vance forced out, trying to mask his panic with a thin smile.
"My dog has better manners than my guests," Matteo replied smoothly, taking a seat at the heavy mahogany table. Clara sat to his right, her posture immaculate, hands folded neatly over the documents in front of her. "You requested an audience. Speak before my patience runs out."
Vance swallowed hard, sliding a thick digital flash drive across the polished wood. "Bianca didn't act alone. There’s a mole inside your inner circle—someone handling your international wire transfers. I know who it is, and I can give you the financial records proving it."
Clara leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she studied Vance’s face. "And what is your price, Mr. Vance? The Eastern Syndicate doesn't give away intelligence for free."
"Fifty percent control of the northern shipping docks," Vance replied smoothly.
Matteo didn't even blink. He reached down, unlatching Bruno’s leather harness just an inch. The dog let out a low, vibrating rumble that shook the dust from the overhead rafters.
"You walk onto my property, insult my wife by addressing her subordinates, and then demand half my empire in exchange for a name I already discovered three days ago," Matteo said softly, standing up from his chair.
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Vance’s eyes widened in genuine terror. "You... you already knew?"
"Leo," Matteo said without turning around. "Escort Mr. Vance out through the snow. Make sure he leaves his car behind. It’s good for his circulation."
