Chapter 6 - The Council of War
At ten o'clock sharp, the heavy brass doors of the Moretti Executive Suite at the Plaza Hotel swung open.
Inside sat the Family Council—twelve senior Capos, dark-suited men who controlled the various territories of the New York syndicate, from the docks of Brooklyn to the high-rise real estate of Manhattan.
The room reeked of expensive cigars, leather, and old money.
At the head of the long oak conference table sat Don Aleandro Moretti.
Standing to his right was Marco. Sitting in a chair at the far end of the room, flanked by two armed enforcers, was Julian Moretti, looking broken, pale, and stripped of his former glory.
"Capos," Aleandro began, his voice echoing through the silent room. "We are here today to deal with treason within our own bloodline."
A murmur rippled through the older men.
Old Man Sal, a senior lieutenant who had served under Aleandro’s father, leaned forward, his bushy eyebrows furrowed. "Aleandro... these are serious allegations. Julian says you went crazy over a housekeeper's kid. He says you drew a gun on federal agents for a maid."
"Julian lies," Aleandro said coldly.
He gestured to Marco, who laid out a stack of financial documents, phone transcripts, and the confession statement signed by Enzo the butler onto the center of the table.
"Julian attempted to poison my wine yesterday afternoon," Aleandro stated clearly. "He used digitalis extract provided by the Genovese family. In exchange, he promised to hand over control of Docks 14 and 18 to their boss, Vincent Genovese."
The Capos leaned in, reviewing the evidence. Gasps and angry curses erupted across the table.
"He tried to murder the Don?" one Capo yelled.
"He dealt with the Genovese behind our backs?!" another barked, slamming his fist on the wood.
Julian tried to stand up, his voice frantic. "Listen to me! Aleandro is weak! He’s letting a widow and a four-year-old child run his house! He’s compromising our security for a maid—"
"SILENCE!" Old Man Sal roared, pointing a trembling finger at Julian. "You broke the sacred code! You tried to kill your own brother! You brought the Genovese into our territory!"
Aleandro stood up, leaning his hands flat on the table. His commanding presence instantly silenced the room.
"Julian is stripped of his title, his holdings, and his rank within this family," Aleandro decreed calmly. "All his assets will be transferred into a private educational and security trust for Sophia and Emma Carter, as restitution for the murder of Thomas Carter three years ago."
Julian’s eyes widened in horror. "You're giving my fortune... to the maid?!"
"She is not 'the maid,' Julian," Aleandro corrected, his gray eyes flashing with lethal promise. "She is under my personal protection. And as of today, any act against her or her child will be considered an act of war against the entire Moretti family."
He looked around the table at the twelve senior Capos.
"Does anyone here object?"
Silence fell over the room. Not a single Capo dared to meet Aleandro’s eyes. They knew the intelligence, the ruthless strength, and the absolute power he possessed.
Old Man Sal raised his glass. "To Don Aleandro. The true leader of the Moretti."
The other eleven Capos raised their glasses in unison. "To Don Aleandro!"
Julian collapsed back into his chair, weeping silently as Marco stepped forward to lead him away toward the waiting transport to an offshore detention facility.
May you like
The coup was over. But as Aleandro looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows toward the Manhattan skyline, he knew the real threat was just beginning.
Vincent Genovese was not a man to accept defeat quietly.
