Chapter 6 - The Council’s Ultimatum
The news of Victor Romano’s obsession with a former housekeeper did not sit well with the Five Families Council—the governing body of the city’s criminal underworld.
To the old-money mafia bosses, Victor’s devotion to an outsider was a sign of dangerous vulnerability.
On a cold Thursday afternoon, Victor was summoned to the Grand Syndicate Hall in the city center.
Sitting around a massive round oak table were the four senior bosses of the city, flanked by dozens of armed lieutenants. At the head of the table sat Don Carmine Falcone, an old, ruthless man who had controlled the city's docks for forty years.
"Victor," Don Carmine began, his raspy voice filling the stone chamber. "We hear troubling rumors."
Victor sat back in his leather chair, crossing his legs casually, resting his right hand on his gold signet ring. "You hear a lot of things, Carmine. Most of them are lies."
"We hear you killed Moretti over a maid," Carmine said coldly. "We hear you have her living in the East Wing of the Romano estate like a queen. A girl with no bloodline, no connections, and no value to our business."
"My personal life is not on the council's agenda," Victor replied, his voice dropping into a dangerous key.
"It becomes our business when your sentimentality causes a syndicate war!" Carmine barked, slamming his palm on the table. "Moretti’s allies are demanding compensation! The council requires stability, Victor. A man in your position needs a alliance, not a charity project."
Carmine signaled to his lieutenant, who placed a dossier on the table in front of Victor.
"This is Sofia Falcone, my granddaughter," Carmine said smoothly. "You will marry her by the end of the month. The merger will unite the docks and the West Wing operations, restoring peace to the city."
Victor didn't even open the dossier. He pushed it back across the table with one finger.
"No," Victor said flatly.
The room gasped. Several guards shifted their hands toward their shoulders.
Carmine’s eyes narrowed into slits. "You dare refuse the council?"
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"I am the Romano family, Carmine," Victor stood up slowly, his tall frame looming over the table with terrifying dominance. "I don't make alliances to survive. I rule this city because no one here is strong enough to stop me. If any man at this table touches Tessa Moore, or tries to dictate who I put in my bed, I will personally wipe his bloodline off the map."
Victor turned his back on the most powerful men in the state and walked out of the hall, leaving a stunned, vengeful silence in his wake.
