REBORN AS A MAFIA PATRIARCH

THE VENGEANCE

Richard stood at the window of the Velvet Cage, Sable's letter clutched in his hand.

"I'm asking you to live, Richard. I'm asking you to find happiness, to build a future, to honor the life I gave you."

The words echoed in his mind, a reminder of everything he'd lost—and everything he still had to fight for.

Nyla appeared at his side, her face pale and drawn. "Richard, I've been going through the old guard's records. There's something I think you should see."

Richard turned to her. "What is it?"

Nyla slid a document across the table. "It's a list of the operatives who were involved in the final battle—the ones who survived. Including the man who pulled the trigger."

Richard's blood ran cold. "The man who killed Sable?"

Nyla nodded slowly. "His name is Marcus Webb. He's been hiding in the mountains, waiting for the heat to die down. But I've found his location."

Richard felt a surge of rage, cold and burning. "Where is he?"

Nyla met his gaze. "He's holed up in a cabin near the old facility. He's alone, and he's not expecting anyone."

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

"Then that's where I'm going. I'm going to find him—and I'm going to make him pay."

---

The journey to the mountains was long and treacherous.

Richard drove through the winding roads, the forests closing in around him. The cabin was hidden deep in the wilderness, far from the city and its watchful eyes.

He arrived as the sun was setting, the cabin looming before him like a dark sentinel. Richard stepped out of the car, his hand resting on the gun at his hip.

"Marcus Webb," he called out. "I know you're in there. I'm coming in."

The door swung open, revealing a man in his late forties, his face lined with fear and regret. He raised his hands, his voice trembling.

"Richard DeLuca. I was wondering when you'd come."

Richard raised his gun. "You killed Sable. You took her from me."

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

Richard felt a surge of rage, hot and cold at the same time. "Sorry? You're sorry? She was the love of my life. And you took her from me."

Marcus met his gaze, his eyes filled with tears. "I was following orders, Richard. I didn't have a choice."

Richard's grip on his gun tightened. "You always have a choice."

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

"Then make your choice, Richard. Kill me, or let me go."

Richard stared at him, the gun trembling in his hand.

He could kill him. He could end this, right here and now. He could avenge Sable's death and find some semblance of peace.

But as he looked at Marcus—the fear in his eyes, the regret in his voice—Richard realized something.

Killing him won't bring her back. It won't ease the pain. It will just create more pain, more loss, more grief.

Richard lowered his gun.

"I'm not going to kill you, Marcus," he said quietly. "I'm not going to give you the satisfaction of becoming like you."

Marcus stared at him, his eyes filled with disbelief. "You're letting me go?"

Richard nodded slowly. "I'm letting you go. But I want you to remember this moment—every time you look in the mirror, every time you close your eyes. I want you to remember that I chose mercy. And I want you to live with that."

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

"Thank you, Richard. I won't forget this."

---

Richard returned to the city as the sun was rising.

He found Elena in the garden, sitting by the fountain, her face pale and drawn.

"Richard," she said as he approached. "I heard about the cabin. About what you did."

Richard sat down beside her, his voice low and urgent. "I couldn't kill him, Elena. I wanted to—I wanted to make him pay. But I couldn't."

Elena reached out and took his hand. "I understand, Richard. I don't agree with what you did—but I understand."

Richard squeezed her hand. "I chose mercy, Elena. I chose to break the cycle."

Elena smiled—a faint, weary expression. "That's what Sable would have wanted, Richard. That's what she would have wanted."

---

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

The night was clear, the stars scattered across the sky like diamonds on black velvet. The city was quiet, the streets empty, the darkness finally lifting.

I chose mercy. I chose to break the cycle. I chose to honor Sable's memory.

Richard turned from the window and walked to his desk.

The work was just beginning.