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Chapter 8 - The Fall of Valetti

The return of Arya’s voice sparked an absolute, unholy fire within Vincenzo Caruso.

The news that the Don’s daughter had spoken her first words spread through the underworld like wildfire, but so did the news that Leo Valetti had attempted to murder a child in a frozen forest. The syndicate commission was appalled by Valetti’s dishonorable methods, withdrawing all diplomatic protection from his family.

"It ends tonight," Vincenzo declared at the war table in his mansion.

This time, there would be no negotiations. No sit-downs. No treaties.

At midnight, a fleet of black armored vehicles surrounded Valetti’s compound at the Docks District. Caruso enforcers breached the iron gates with heavy explosives, sweeping through the courtyard in a display of overwhelming force.

Leo Valetti barricaded himself in his top-floor executive penthouse, surrounded by his three remaining personal bodyguards, holding a gold-plated revolver with trembling hands.

"Hold the door!" Valetti screamed. "Shoot anything that comes up those stairs!"

The heavy oak doors of the penthouse were blown inward off their hinges with a deafening crack.

Through the smoke and fire stepped Vincenzo Caruso, holding a heavy shotgun. Beside him walked Ghost.

The three bodyguards fired frantically, but Marco and the Caruso assault team moved with surgical precision, neutralizing the guards in seconds.

Valetti was knocked to the floor, his gold revolver spinning out of reach across the marble tiles. He scrambled backward against his mahogany desk, hyperventilating as he looked up at Vincenzo.

"Vincenzo... please!" Valetti begged, his arrogance completely evaporated. "It was business! We can make a deal! I'll give you the entire Docks District! I'll leave the state!"

Vincenzo didn't raise his shotgun. He lowered it, leaning his weight against the barrel, looking down at the groveling boss with absolute contempt.

"I’m not going to shoot you, Leo," Vincenzo said calmly.

Valetti breathed a massive sigh of relief. "Thank you... thank you, Vincenzo—"

"I’m not going to shoot you," Vincenzo repeated, stepping aside. "Because you didn't just cross me. You tried to kill my daughter. And you tortured her dog."

Vincenzo looked at Ghost.

The giant wolf-hound stepped forward slowly into the light of the burning penthouse. His icy yellow eyes locked onto the man who had beaten him, starved him, and left him to die in a fight ring years ago.

Ghost let out a low, terrifying rumble from his chest.

"No... no! Stay back! Get it away from me!" Valetti shrieked, pressing his back against the wall, paralyzed with absolute horror.

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"Ghost," Vincenzo said softly, using the hand signal Arya had taught him. Take him.

The screams of Leo Valetti echoed across the quiet waters of the harbor until the night swallowed them whole.

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