Chapter 10
The gunshot echoed like thunder through the estate. Franco dropped his weapon, his eyes widening in shock as he clutched his chest, before collapsing heavily onto the marble tiles below. The Moretti civil war was over in a single, definitive heartbeat.
Silence reclaimed the grand hall.
Antonio slowly walked down the stairs, tossing the blood-stained ledger onto Franco’s lifeless body. The ghosts of the past no longer haunted the fourth-floor corridor; they had finally been laid to rest.
Two days later, the Manhattan estate looked different. The heavy blackout drapes were pulled back, letting the brilliant afternoon sunlight flood every room—even the fourth floor, where the door now stood wide open, filled with the sound of fresh laughter.
Elena stood by the tall window of the study, watching the autumn leaves drift across Central Park. Antonio walked up behind her, stopping just inches away. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, red-and-white plastic stethoscope, placing it gently on the desk between them.
Mia ran into the room, holding her stuffed bear high, and wrapped her tiny arms around Antonio’s leg.
Antonio looked down, a rare, genuine smile touching the corners of his lips as he scooped the little girl into his arms.
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His heart wasn't sad anymore.
Would you like me to expand on any specific character's background or explore the aftermath of Antonio taking full control of the syndicate?
