Chapter 6 - The Fall of the DeMarcos
The entire vault was dead silent. Nobody moved. Nobody dared to draw breath.
Julian DeMarco whimpered, shaking in terror as the cold steel of Vincent's pistol pressed into his skin. Vivian was on her knees, crying uncontrollably, all her former arrogance completely crushed.
"Don Carmine," Vincent said calmly, never taking his eyes off Julian. "As Senior Chairman of the Council, what is the punishment for pulling an unsanctioned weapon during a peaceful summit and threatening a protected guest?"
Don Carmine stood up slowly, shaking his head in disgust at the bleeding Julian.
"The punishment is absolute forfeiture of all family assets, immediate exile from the city, and execution if you ever return," Don Carmine pronounced heavily. "The DeMarco family is hereby stripped of their rank, their territory, and their seat on this Council. Their holdings are to be absorbed by the Moretti Syndicate immediately."
"No! Please! Have mercy!" Vivian sobbed, crawling toward Vincent's polished shoes. "Vincent, please! We were engaged! I loved you!"
Vincent looked down at her with pure disgust. "You loved my power. You loved my money. But you treated human beings like trash beneath your feet. Get out of my sight before I let my men handle you."
Marco and four Moretti enforcers stepped forward, grabbing Julian and Vivian by their collars and dragging them out of the vault into the cold night. Their frantic screams faded down the concrete corridor until the heavy steel doors slammed shut once again.
The remaining crime bosses bowed their heads toward Vincent, acknowledging his absolute dominance over the city.
Vincent turned back to me. The icy killer demeanor melted away in an instant as his eyes softened. He tucked his gun back into his shoulder holster and held out his hand to me.
"Are you alright, Clara?" he asked softly. "Did I frighten you?"
I looked at his outstretched hand, then up into his dark, expressive eyes. My heart was pounding, but not from fear. For the first time in my life, I felt truly protected. I felt seen.
May you like
I reached out and placed my hand in his. "I've never felt safer in my life."
As we walked out of the Grand Casino Vault together, side by side, the whispers among the guards were no longer about a maid. They were whispering about the new Queen of the city.
