Chapter 9
Giulietta did not send armed men racing across Manhattan.
That was what Marcello expected.
Instead she called every capo waiting outside.
One by one.
They entered the ballroom across from the bridal suite.
Fourteen men.
Some had served her father.
Some had served his father.
Giulietta stood at the head of the table in her wedding gown.
No veil now.
No ring.
Luca stood behind her.
Not beside her.
That distinction mattered.
She looked around the room.
“Marcello stole a ledger.”
Several men went still.
She saw exactly who knew what it contained.
Fear moved differently through guilty people.
Some looked at the door.
Some at Luca.
Two lowered their eyes.
Giulietta did not name anyone.
“The ledger contains old violations my father kept private.”
No one spoke.
“He used them as leverage.”
The oldest capo shifted.
“He used them as insurance.”
Giulietta looked at him.
“Same thing if the person holding it decides obedience matters more than truth.”
Silence.
Then she did what Marcello could not have predicted.
“If your name is on it, tell me now.”
Nobody moved.
Giulietta waited.
No threat.
No countdown.
Finally Luca stepped forward.
“My name.”
Another man raised his hand.
Then another.
Five total.
Warren watched from the doorway.
His expression changed.
Giulietta had stripped the ledger of power by inviting confession before blackmail could begin.
One capo admitted skimming fuel contracts twenty years earlier.
Another admitted hiding gambling debt.
Another had paid a city inspector.
Old crimes.
Old shame.
Some serious.
Some already repaired privately.
Giulietta’s face remained calm.
“Nothing leaves this room until counsel reviews what creates current legal exposure.”
The men looked at her.
No punishment announced.
No humiliation.
Marcello’s leverage weakened with every confession.
Then one capo spoke.
“Giulietta.”
She turned.
“My name isn't on your father’s list.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
His breathing changed.
“Because Marcello has another one.”
The room went silent.
“What list?”
The capo looked toward Warren.
“Hale payments.”
Warren’s face became still.
The man continued.
“Marcello has been paying Marconi soldiers through Hale consulting companies for almost a year.”
Giulietta turned toward Warren.
He shook his head.
“Not authorized by me.”
Preston looked at his father.
For once, Giulietta believed Warren.
Partially.
Then the capo delivered the worse detail.
“He wasn't buying protection.”
Giulietta’s eyes narrowed.
“What was he buying?”
The capo swallowed.
“Votes for after your wedding.”
Giulietta already suspected succession manipulation.
But this was different.
“How many?”
“Enough.”
“For what?”
The man looked directly at her.
“To declare you mentally unfit after you attacked Preston.”
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The hidden camera was not only for law enforcement or corporate control.
It was designed to make her own capos vote her out.
