Chapter 11
The captains did not vote that day.
I refused to let them.
Lucia had expected a temporary council proposal within the week. I learned that from Paolo, then confirmed it with two others.
I canceled nothing.
I simply removed the premise.
No transfer based on rumors.
No authority created from pain witnessed under manipulated conditions.
If there was ever a real question about my capacity, it would be asked in front of me.
That alone destroyed most of Lucia’s leverage.
Grant understood before she did.
“You waited too long,” he told her.
She turned on him.
“You talked too much.”
They began dismantling each other immediately.
I let them.
Grant revealed Lucia had instructed staff to report every spasm but never every improvement.
Lucia revealed Grant had been telling younger capos that my paralysis would become permanent even though no doctor had said that.
Grant laughed.
“You said the same thing.”
“I said probability.”
“No. You said once he stopped standing, nobody would follow him.”
The room went quiet.
Lucia looked at me.
I had heard enough.
“You never wanted me comfortable.”
She said nothing.
“You wanted me visible.”
Still nothing.
June stood near the medicine cabinet, holding the same bottle that started all of this.
I looked at it.
“How many times did you kick one away?”
Lucia’s face changed.
June stared.
Grant answered.
“More than once.”
Silence.
He continued, almost enjoying it now.
“She said if staff handed you medicine too quickly, the attacks ended before anyone important saw them.”
I felt something inside me harden.
Not because I was surprised.
Because cruelty had finally become explicit.
Pain was not collateral.
Pain was staging.
May you like
Lucia had prolonged my suffering so other men could witness it.
And that made whatever family excuse she planned to use next worthless.
