Chapter 6 - The Confrontation
By 4:00 a.m., the storm had cleared, leaving behind a crisp, starry night over the Long Island estate. The main living room was lit by a roaring fire in the massive stone fireplace.
Bruno was resting comfortably on his oversized velvet cushion, wrapped in a warm wool blanket. A bowl of fresh water and roasted chicken sat beside him. Sitting on the floor right next to the giant dog was little Lily, who had refused to go to sleep in Manhattan until she knew Bruno was safe. She was gently stroking his soft ears, and Bruno’s tail tapped rhythmically against the floor.
Standing in the center of the room, hands bound behind their backs, were Vivienne and her father, Hector Romano. Both looked exhausted, defeated, and terrified.
Adrian stood near the fireplace, sipping a glass of scotch, his expression carved from dark granite. Marco stood by the door, flanked by four armed guards.
"Adrian, please," Vivienne begged, her mascara ruined by hours of crying. "It was my father’s idea! He forced me to do it! He said he would disown me if I didn't help him get the ledger!"
"She’s lying!" Hector shouted, turning on his daughter. "She came to me! She said you were growing distant, that you were going to call off the wedding! She wanted leverage to force you to marry her!"
Adrian listened to them turn on each other with absolute disgust. He raised his hand, and both of them instantly fell silent.
"You thought Bruno was just an animal," Adrian said quietly, looking over at the dog, who was gently resting his head in Lily’s lap. "You thought he was a tool to be used, doused with drugs, and shoved into a trunk. But Bruno has been more loyal to me than any human being in my life."
He walked over to his desk, picked up two thick folders, and tossed them onto the coffee table.
"Those are the surrender papers for Romano Logistics," Adrian stated flatly. "You will sign over every ship, every warehouse, and every contract to the Moretti syndicate by sunrise. You will pack your bags, leave New York, and never set foot in this state again."
"And if we refuse?" Hector asked, his voice trembling.
"If you refuse," Adrian said, his eyes flashing with lethal intent, "I release the evidence I have on your cartel connections to the Federal Prosecutor. You will spend the rest of your natural life in a maximum-security prison. And Vivienne will be named as your co-conspirator."
Vivienne dropped to her knees, weeping hysterically. "I'll sign! I'll sign anything! Just let us go!"
May you like
"Sign," Adrian commanded.
Within ten minutes, the papers were executed. Marco led the sobbing pair out of the estate and into a waiting car, banishing them from the city forever.
