Chapter 6
I reached the west house at seven fourteen.
Twenty-nine minutes before the meeting was ever supposed to begin.
The front door stood open.
No guards.
No lights.
I entered alone.
Not because I had suddenly become stupid.
Because twelve of my men were already moving around the building and another eight were covering every exit.
Silence can be useful when people believe they've surprised you.
I heard Mason first.
“Dad!”
Upstairs.
I ran.
The main meeting room occupied the entire second floor.
Long table.
Old portraits.
Heavy curtains.
The place where Bellandi men had settled arguments for three generations.
Mason stood near the far wall.
Dominic held him by the shoulder.
August sat in a chair beside him.
His wrists were tied.
But the person standing at the head of the table wasn't Cesare.
It was Julian.
I stopped.
He smiled.
“You took longer than I expected.”
My eyes went to Mason.
“Let him go.”
“No.”
“Dominic.”
The older capo wouldn't look at me.
That told me everything.
“You served my father for twenty-six years.”
His jaw tightened.
“I still do.”
August laughed.
Weakly.
“You have an unusual way of showing it.”
Julian walked around the table.
“Don't misunderstand him.”
I looked at him.
“He isn't betraying August.”
“What?”
“He's following August.”
My father stared at Julian.
“You've always talked too much.”
Julian grinned.
For one second, I didn't understand.
Then I did.
Julian wanted me confused.
He wanted doubt.
He wanted me wondering whether my own father had somehow arranged this.
August saw it too.
“Rocco.”
I looked at him.
“Don't listen.”
Julian shrugged.
“Convenient.”
Mason tried to pull away from Dominic.
“Dad!”
Dominic tightened his grip.
I felt the room narrow.
“Take your hand off my son.”
Dominic swallowed.
But didn't.
Julian opened his jacket.
No gun.
Interesting.
“This was supposed to happen at eight.”
I looked around.
“Where are the capos?”
“Coming.”
“No.”
I smiled.
“They aren't.”
His face changed.
“All senior men were moved to the main house five minutes ago.”
That wasn't true.
They'd been moved ten minutes earlier.
But Julian didn't know.
“Your meeting has no audience.”
He stopped.
There.
For the first time, panic.
August laughed again.
Julian turned on him.
“You think this is funny?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you still believe Cesare chose you.”
Julian froze.
I looked at my father.
He continued.
“My brother never chose men.”
“What does that mean?”
“He chooses opportunities.”
The west door opened.
Dominic turned.
So did Julian.
Vanessa walked in between two of my bodyguards.
Her hands were free.
Julian stared at her.
“You.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“He promised me you would die first.”
Julian's face emptied.
That was when the trap finally became visible to him.
Cesare had given everyone a different version of the future.
Julian would lead.
Vanessa would be protected.
Dominic would preserve August's old order.
Each believed the others were tools.
None understood they were all disposable.
Then Mason pointed toward the balcony doors.
“Dad.”
A shadow moved outside.
August's face changed.
“Down!”
Glass exploded inward.
My men moved.
Mason disappeared beneath Dominic as the old capo instinctively shielded him.
A shot tore through the chair where Julian had been standing.
Not meant for me.
Meant for him.
August was right.
May you like
Cesare wasn't coming to crown Julian.
He was coming to erase every witness who knew what he'd done.
