Chapter 10
The transition from a protective father back to a wartime general was seamless. Xavier stood with Silas near the heavy mahogany doors of the council room, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb Maya, who was happily eating her cake at the head of the table. The bright, cinematic lighting of the atrium illuminated the grim expression on the capo's fair, rosy face.
"The targets have been deposited at the city limits, Boss," Silas reported, his American accent tight with impending adrenaline. "They are making calls. Our wiretaps confirm that Charlotte’s father has already been notified. He is mobilizing the northern factions."
"He acts with predictable emotion," Xavier murmured, his deep, raspy voice perfectly calm. He checked his gold signet ring, rotating it slowly around his finger. "He believes that because he controls the supply lines, he holds the power. He forgets who provides the muscle to protect those lines."
"They have a massive standing army, Xavier," Silas cautioned, stepping slightly closer. "If the northern factions unite against us, we will be fighting a war on three different fronts. The Commission might step in and sanction us for breaking the marriage treaty."
"The Commission... answers to strength," Xavier stated, his cold, sharp eyes narrowing into lethal slits. "And the treaty... was broken the moment that woman laid her hands on my bloodline. I will not negotiate my daughter's safety for political convenience."
"What are your orders, Mr. Romano?" Silas asked, his hand resting instinctively on the concealed weapon beneath his suit jacket. He knew the peace of the city was over.
"We do not wait to be attacked," Xavier commanded softly, the controlled pauses in his speech painting a horrific, vivid picture of the violence to come. "I want the elite strike teams mobilized immediately. Arm every loyal soldier on the payroll. We strike their primary money-laundering fronts tonight. Burn their warehouses. Cripple their infrastructure before they even have a chance to organize their men."
"A preemptive strike," Silas nodded, a fierce, loyal fire igniting in his eyes. "We cut off the head of the snake."
"Total eradication," Xavier corrected, his voice dropping into a register of pure, concentrated ice. "I want the northern factions to understand exactly what it costs to threaten the Black King. Leave no survivors at the command level."
"Consider it done," Silas affirmed, turning swiftly to execute the orders that would plunge the region into violent chaos.
May you like
As his capo hurried out to orchestrate the bloody purge, Xavier remained standing in the bright, beautifully lit atrium. He looked back at the long birthday table, watching his daughter laugh as she managed to get chocolate frosting on her nose.
He had protected his child today. He had eradicated the rot from his own home. But as he stared out through the massive glass windows into the darkening evening sky, he knew the monsters outside the gates were gathering. The war with the northern families was coming, bringing fire and blood to the city streets. But as long as he drew breath, the light in this house would never go out. He was ready for whatever came next, a lethal guardian standing watch over his empire.
