REBORN AS A MAFIA PATRIARCH

THE EVIDENCE

Richard stood in the war room at the Velvet Cage, the documents from Nyla spread across the table.

The hunt for the second mole had consumed his days. He and Nyla had been working tirelessly, following the trail of information through the labyrinth of the Phoenix Council's network. But every lead seemed to dead-end, every clue seemed to evaporate.

Whoever this mole is, they're careful. They've been covering their tracks for years.

Nyla appeared at his side, her face pale and drawn. "Richard, I've been going through the communications again. There's a pattern—a specific time of day when the information is being transmitted."

Richard turned to her. "What time?"

Nyla met his gaze. "Midnight. Every night. Someone in your inner circle is sending information to the Phoenix Council at midnight."

Richard was silent for a long moment. Then he spoke, his voice quiet but firm.

"Then we need to set up surveillance. We need to watch everyone in our inner circle and see who's transmitting at midnight."

Nyla nodded slowly. "I'll coordinate with Sable. We'll have eyes on everyone by tonight."

---

The surveillance began that evening.

Richard watched from the shadows of the Velvet Cage as his allies moved through the night. He saw Elena, Troy, Sable, Enzo—all of them going about their business, unaware that they were being watched.

One of them is the mole. One of them has been betraying us all along.

The hours passed in a blur of tension and suspicion. Richard waited, his eyes fixed on the monitors, his mind racing with possibilities.

And then, at midnight, he saw it.

A figure moving through the darkness, a phone pressed to their ear. The figure was heading toward the docks, their movements furtive and hurried.

Richard's blood ran cold.

Who is it? Who's the mole?

Richard grabbed his coat and followed.

---

The docks were dark and quiet, the water lapping against the pilings. Richard moved through the shadows, his senses alert for any sign of danger.

He found the figure at the end of the pier, their back to him, their voice low and urgent.

"The information is ready. I'll transmit it tonight. Tell the Council we're ready to move."

Richard stepped forward, his voice cold and hard. "Who are you talking to?"

The figure spun around. Richard's eyes widened in shock.

It was Enzo.

His father.

"Richard," Enzo said, his face pale and drawn. "I can explain—"

Richard raised his gun. "Explain? You've been the mole all along? You've been feeding information to the Phoenix Council?"

Enzo was silent for a long moment. Then he let out a long, shuddering breath.

"I had no choice, Richard. The Phoenix Council has been controlling me for years—ever since I betrayed your mother. They've been using me, manipulating me, threatening to destroy everything I love if I didn't cooperate."

Richard stared at him, his mind reeling. "So you sold us out? You sold out your own family?"

Enzo nodded slowly. "I did. And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Richard was silent for a long moment. Then he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I understand, Father. I don't agree with what you did—but I understand."

Enzo looked up at him, his eyes filled with hope. "You're not going to kill me?"

Richard shook his head. "No. I'm not going to kill you. But I need you to help me. I need you to tell me everything you know about the Phoenix Council's plans."

Enzo nodded slowly. "I will. I'll tell you everything."

---

The hours passed as Enzo spoke.

He told Richard about the Phoenix Council's history, their leaders, their operations. He told him about the hidden facility in the mountains, the resources they'd amassed, the plans they'd been making.

And he told him about the one thing that made Richard's blood run cold.

"They're planning to attack tonight," Enzo said. "They're going to hit the mansion, the Velvet Cage, and the Marchetti headquarters simultaneously. They want to cripple us in one blow."

Richard felt a chill run down his spine. "Tonight? When?"

Enzo met his gaze. "In three hours. They're mobilizing their forces now."

Richard was silent for a long moment. Then he spoke, his voice cold and hard.

"Then we need to be ready. We need to stop them before they can strike."

---

Richard drove through the night, his mind racing with plans and strategies.

He had allies. He had information. And he had a plan.

I'm going to stop them. I'm going to protect my family. And I'm going to destroy the Phoenix Council once and for all.

Richard pulled out his phone and dialed Sable's number.

"Richard?" Her voice was anxious. "What's wrong?"

"I found the mole. It was my father. He's been feeding information to the Phoenix Council for years."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "What are we going to do?"

Richard met her gaze. "We're going to stop them. We're going to defend our positions and drive them back."

---

Richard stood at the window of his bedroom, looking out at the city.

The sun was rising, casting pale gold light across the streets. The city was quiet, the streets empty, the darkness finally lifting.

I have allies. I have information. And I have a plan.

I'm going to destroy the Phoenix Council. I'm going to protect my family. And I'm going to build something better.

Richard turned from the window and walked to his desk.

The war was far from over—but he was ready to win it.