Chapter 5 - The Unraveling Thread
“Julian,” I said, my voice dropping into a dangerously quiet tone. “Step out of the conservatory.”
Julian backed out through the oak doors slowly, his hands raised in a placating gesture. “Alessandro, that dog is unstable! It’s going to hurt someone!”
I followed him out into the private corridor, closing the oak doors behind me to seal the conservatory.
Geno and Marco stepped up from the side hallway, positioning themselves behind Julian.
Julian looked between the two guards, his smooth smile cracking at the edges. “What is the meaning of this, Alessandro? We have a board meeting in forty minutes.”
“Your brother Victor was arrested two hours ago at the border checkpoint in Detroit,” I revealed, watching his eyes carefully.
Julian’s left eyelid twitched. “My brother? I haven't spoken to Victor in years.”
“Victor’s phone records say otherwise, Julian,” Marco said, pulling an encrypted digital tablet from his jacket. “Over forty calls in the last two weeks. And twelve million dollars was transferred from your shell company in Switzerland into Victor’s offshore account last night.”
Julian backed up until his spine hit the mahogany wall paneling. “Alessandro... listen to me. It’s a setup! The North Side syndicate is trying to frame me to fracture your inner council!”
“Bruno doesn't care about the North Side syndicate, Julian,” I said, stepping into his personal space. “Bruno knows the scent of the man who ordered his leg broken.”
I turned to Marco. “Take him to the sub-basement holding facility. Strip him of all communication devices. I want a full audit of every terminal clearance he has signed in the last eighteen months.”
“You can’t do this!” Julian shouted as Marco and Geno grabbed his arms, pinning him against the wall. “I am a partner in the Moretti trust! The council will never support this!”
“The council obeys me, Julian,” I said coldly. “Because unlike you, I know the difference between loyalty and a contract.”
As they dragged Julian down the stairs, his curses echoing off the stone walls, I stood in the quiet hallway for a long moment.
The door to the conservatory opened slightly.
Sophia stood in the doorway, holding Emma in her arms. She looked at me with a mixture of concern and unwavering trust.
“Is everything alright, Alessandro?” she asked softly.
It was the first time she had called me by my first name instead of Mr. Moretti.
May you like
I looked at her, then at Emma, who was waving her little hand at me.
“Everything is going to be fine, Sophia,” I said, stepping toward them. “The threats inside my house are finally coming to light.”
