Chapter 11
Vittorio did not return home immediately.
He called Nico first.
“Come to Sacramento.”
Nico arrived before sunset.
Samuel remained at the table.
When Nico saw him, his face tightened.
“You.”
Samuel nodded.
Vittorio said nothing.
He wanted to watch what happened without directing it.
Nico looked at Samuel.
“You knew Bernadette put my name on the interim petition?”
“Yes.”
Nico’s breath stopped.
Samuel continued.
“You were the only candidate the council might accept.”
“You never asked me.”
“You would've said no.”
Nico’s hand closed into a fist.
Samuel did not move.
“You would've taken the chair once Vittorio stepped down.”
Nico’s eyes darkened.
“You don't know that.”
“I trained you too.”
Silence.
Vittorio saw the uncomfortable truth.
Nico might not have planned the takeover.
But some part of him had imagined himself capable of replacing Vittorio.
That possibility had made Bernadette’s plan easier to tolerate.
Nico finally looked at Vittorio.
“I thought you were losing control.”
“And your solution was to help frighten my son?”
“No.”
His voice broke.
“No.”
That was the first time Vittorio heard shame instead of defense.
Nico lowered his eyes.
“I told myself nobody would really hurt him.”
Vittorio’s breathing slowed.
“That sentence is why you're finished.”
Nico looked up.
Not angry.
Wounded.
He understood.
Vittorio removed him as underboss that night.
Not through violence.
Not through a private disappearance.
Through a signed council notice.
Nico surrendered his authority.
Then Samuel spoke quietly.
“You think removing him ends this?”
Vittorio turned.
Samuel looked toward the road.
“Bernadette kept a second petition.”
“For what?”
Samuel’s eyes met his.
May you like
“Permanent removal.”
And unlike the first petition, Vittorio’s name was already on it.
