Chapter 10
Valentina did not rush.
That frightened Victor.
“You knew?”
He asked.
She stood.
“I suspected.”
His smile weakened.
Thomas entered from the side door.
“Warehouse contained.”
Victor’s face changed completely.
“What?”
“Six men.”
Thomas looked at Valentina.
“Three inside.”
“Three stopped before entry.”
Victor stared.
Valentina had moved the warehouse guards before leaving Brian’s house.
Because no man who stages one event relies on only one stage.
Victor understood.
“You used the supper to expose me.”
“Yes.”
Samuel looked at Valentina.
“And the warehouse?”
“Used to expose the rest.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
“You think this is over?”
“No.”
Valentina looked toward Brian.
“It started long before tonight.”
Brian stared at the floor.
Walter looked at him.
“How long?”
Brian said nothing.
“Brian.”
His father’s voice.
Not the boss.
Not Valentina.
Brian finally answered.
“Four months.”
Melissa immediately snapped:
“Six.”
Brian turned.
She laughed bitterly.
“If we’re ruined, at least be accurate.”
Victor closed his eyes.
Valentina almost smiled.
“Six months.”
Melissa folded her arms.
“Since Walter moved in.”
Walter looked at her.
“You invited me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She answered without shame now.
“Because Victor needed access.”
Brian stared.
“You said Dad should be with family.”
Melissa looked at him.
“You would’ve said no if I told you the truth.”
Brian’s face collapsed.
She continued.
“You wanted to feel like a good son.”
“So I used it.”
Cruel.
Efficient.
Brian whispered:
“You used Dad to use me.”
Melissa shrugged.
“You were useful too.”
Walter stared at his son.
Not pity.
Not forgiveness.
Recognition.
Brian had abused him.
But someone had also been feeding Brian exactly what he wanted to believe.
That did not erase responsibility.
It explained the route.
Victor snapped:
“Enough.”
Valentina looked at him.
He hated losing control of the narrative.
Good.
“What did you promise Melissa?”
Valentina asked.
Victor said nothing.
Melissa answered:
“Half the household authority.”
Brian turned.
“What?”
She looked at him.
“When you took over.”
“You never told me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you’d have wanted all of it.”
Brian laughed bitterly.
“So did you.”
“Yes.”
Finally honest.
Walter looked toward Valentina.
“No one here wanted family.”
His voice was tired.
“They wanted pieces.”
Valentina nodded.
Victor tapped his cane.
“You’re all missing the point.”
He looked at the old capos.
“Valentina is weak.”
Samuel leaned back.
“How?”
“She lets emotion interfere.”
Raymond asked:
“With what?”
“Discipline.”
Victor pointed toward Walter.
“Look at this.”
“A seventy-year-old man whining about meals.”
Walter’s face hardened.
Victor continued.
“In our day, men survived worse.”
Walter stood.
“In our day?”
Victor nodded.
Walter walked closer.
“Your wife used to hide food in the pantry because you rationed it when angry.”
Victor’s face changed.
The room went silent.
Walter continued.
“She told my wife.”
Victor’s grip tightened on the cane.
“You want tradition?”
Walter leaned closer.
“Then let’s remember all of it.”
Victor said nothing.
Walter smiled coldly.
“Not just the parts that make you feel powerful.”
The old capos looked at Victor differently now.
History had shifted.
Then Melissa’s phone buzzed.
She looked down.
Her face went pale.
Valentina noticed.
“What?”
Melissa tried to lock the screen.
Thomas took it.
One message.
From an unknown number.
PLAN B. TAKE WALTER BEFORE DAWN.
Walter went still.
Brian looked at Victor.
May you like
Victor’s face revealed nothing.
Which meant the message had not come from him.
