Chapter 5 - The Unraveling
A low murmur swept through the room. Don Lucchesi lowered his cigar, his thick brows knitting together as he looked between uncle and nephew.
"What is the meaning of this, Matteo?" Lucchesi asked, his rough voice breaking the tension.
Matteo nodded to Marco.
Marco stepped forward, opening the leather cases and placing thick stacks of financial audits, wiretap transcripts, and forensic digital logs onto the table in front of each visiting don.
"For nine years," Matteo announced, "my uncle has been running a secondary syndicate using company funds. He forged my signature, manipulated my private communications, and used my family's resources to line his personal accounts in Zurich."
Salvatore stood up slowly, his face tightening into a mask of cold arrogance. "These are fabrications! A desperate attempt by a young man who is losing his grip on his own territory!"
"Six years ago," Matteo continued, his voice dropping an octave, becoming cold as iron, "Salvatore hired a digital security firm to clone my personal mobile device. He sent a forged message to the mother of my child, telling her I had abandoned her. He then had my security detail block her from entering this building."
The room fell dead silent. In the world of the five families, business disputes were expected, but targeting a Don's direct bloodline was an unpardonable sin—a violation of the foundational code that protected their families from internal destruction.
Don Moretti flipped through the pages of the report, his eyes widening as he saw the bank transfer receipts bearing Salvatore's personal seal. He looked up at Salvatore with pure, unadulterated disgust.
"You targeted a child of the blood?" Moretti asked, his voice shaking with anger. "You drove a Caruso heir into poverty to cover your embezzlement?"
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"It was a business decision!" Salvatore shouted, dropping his pretense of denial as rage consumed his features. "Matteo was soft! He was wasting his time with a piano player from a West Side bar! He wasn't fit to rule this family!"
"I am the head of this family," Matteo said softly, stepping around the table. "And your business is finished."
