Chapter 4 - The Patriarch's Trial
The Moretti estate in Lake Forest was a sprawling, stone fortress surrounded by ten-foot iron gates, armed guards, and acres of dark pine woods. It smelled of autumn leaves, gun oil, and ancient money.
We were escorted into the library—a massive room lined with leather-bound books, floor-to-ceiling stained glass, and a roaring marble fireplace.
Sitting in a high-backed leather armchair near the fire was Don Vincenzo Moretti. He was seventy years old, with silver hair, deeply lined skin, and dark eyes that looked as sharp as thrown daggers. Standing beside him, looking pale and furious, was Julian. Standing behind Julian, trying desperately to look regal in an overly dramatic lace dress, was Serena.
"Nikolai," Don Vincenzo growled, his voice like grinding stones. "You bring a woman into this house who was engaged to your brother twelve hours ago?"
"I brought the future matriarch of this family, Father," Nikolai said smoothly, walking into the room with complete composure, his hand firmly holding mine.
Julian stepped forward, pointing a finger at me. "Father! She's doing this out of revenge! Evelyn is using Nikolai to get back at me and Serena! She doesn't care about this family or the business!"
Serena let out a tiny, dramatic sob. "Don Vincenzo... Evelyn has always been jealous of me. When Julian chose me, she snapped. She's just trying to ruin Julian's reputation!"
Don Vincenzo slammed his heavy cane against the hardwood floor. "SILENCE!"
The room fell instantly silent.
The old Don turned his dark, terrifying gaze onto me. He leaned forward, resting his gnarled hands on his cane.
"Girl," Vincenzo rasped, glaring at me. "You stand in my home. My youngest son says you are a bitter woman seeking revenge. My eldest son claims you are worthy of the Imperium. Speak. Defend yourself."
I didn't hide behind Nikolai. I took two steps forward, standing directly in front of the legendary crime boss, my posture straight, my eyes matching his without a single flicker of fear.
"I don't need to defend myself, Don Vincenzo," I said softly, my voice echoing clearly through the grand library. "I am not here to beg for your approval."
Julian snorted. "Listen to her arrogance—"
"I am here," I continued, cutting Julian off with a cold glance, "because your youngest son is about to bankrupt your family."
Vincenzo’s eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"
I opened my leather portfolio and placed three documents directly onto the table beside his chair.
"Those are the tax records for Hart Logistics," I explained smoothly. "Julian signed a secret contract with my father three weeks ago. In exchange for my father using his political influence to back Julian's bid for Don, Julian agreed to absorb twelve million dollars of my father's illegal debts into the Moretti accounts the moment he takes power."
Vincenzo reached out, his weathered hands picking up the documents. He flipped through them, his expression growing darker with every second.
"Julian," Vincenzo whispered, his voice dangerously low. "Is this true?"
Julian went completely white. "Father... it... it was a strategic investment! Hart Logistics controls the river docks!"
"Hart Logistics is under federal investigation!" I interjected cleanly. "My father was going to use Julian as a scapegoat. If Julian had become Don, the FBI would have seized three of your primary shipping routes by the end of the month. I didn't join Nikolai out of revenge, Don Vincenzo. I joined him because I am the only person in this city who knows how to save your family's empire from my father's incompetence."
Don Vincenzo finished reading the last page. He slammed the folder shut, tossed it onto the table, and slowly stood up from his chair.
He walked over to Julian, looked him dead in the eye, and delivered a swift, stinging slap across his youngest son's face.
The crack echoed through the room like a gunshot. Serena screamed, covering her mouth.
"You fool," Vincenzo spat at Julian. "You traded our family's safety for a pretty face and a mountain of debt."
May you like
The old Don turned back to Nikolai and me. He looked at the black-diamond ring on my finger, then looked up into my eyes. For the first time, a small, terrifying flicker of respect appeared in his dark gaze.
"The council votes in two weeks," Vincenzo said quietly. "Evelyn Hart... you will sit at the head table beside my son."
