REBORN AS A MAFIA PATRIARCH

THE INTERROGATION

Richard stared at the document, his mind reeling.

Troy. His bodyguard. His trusted ally. The man who'd been with him through everything—the battles, the betrayals, the victories. He'd been feeding information to the old guard all along.

Richard looked up at Nyla, his voice barely above a whisper. "Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure?"

Nyla met his gaze. "The evidence is clear, Richard. Troy's been sending messages to the old guard for months—details about our operations, our plans, our weaknesses. He's been sabotaging us from the inside."

Richard felt a surge of rage, hot and cold at the same time. "I trusted him. I trusted him with my life."

Nyla reached out and took his hand. "I know, Richard. I'm sorry."

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

"I need to confront him. I need to find out why he did it."

---

Richard drove through the night, his mind consumed by a cold, burning rage.

Troy. The man who'd saved his life, who'd fought beside him, who'd sworn to protect him. The man who'd been betraying him from the very beginning.

Why? Why would he do this?

Richard arrived at the DeLuca mansion and walked through the halls, his footsteps echoing on the marble floors. He found Troy in the guard room, cleaning his weapons, his face peaceful and serene.

"Troy," Richard said, his voice cold and hard.

Troy looked up, his expression shifting from surprise to wariness. "Richard? What's wrong?"

Richard walked to him, the document clutched in his hand. "I found this. In the old files. Evidence that someone in my inner circle has been feeding information to the old guard."

Troy's face went pale. "Richard, I can explain—"

Richard held up the document. "The evidence is clear, Troy. You've been sending messages to the old guard for months. You've been sabotaging us from the inside. Why?"

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

"Because I had no choice," he said quietly. "The old guard had my family—my wife, my children. They were holding them hostage, threatening to kill them if I didn't cooperate."

Richard stared at him. "So you sold us out? You sold out everyone who trusted you?"

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

Troy 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 old guard's remaining operations."

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

---

The hours passed as Troy spoke.

He told Richard about the old guard's remaining operations, their resources, their allies. He told him about the hidden safe houses, the secret communications, the plans they'd been making for a final assault.

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

"The old guard has a new leader," Troy said. "Someone who's been operating in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. Someone who's more dangerous than anyone you've faced before."

Richard leaned forward. "Who is it?"

Troy met his gaze. "I don't know. They never told me. But I know they've been planning something big—something that's going to hit us hard."

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

"Then we need to find them. We need to find the new leader—and we need to destroy them."

---

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 hiding secrets that no one wanted to face.

Troy betrayed me. He sold me out to protect his family. I understand why he did it—but I can't trust him anymore.

Richard turned from the window and walked to his desk.

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

---

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

"Richard," she said as he approached. "I heard about Troy. About what he did."

Richard sat down beside her, his voice low and urgent. "He was trying to protect his family, Elena. He didn't have a choice."

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

Richard squeezed her hand. "Thank you, Elena. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Elena smiled—a faint, weary expression. "You'd be lost. But that's okay—I'll always be here to find you."

---

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 have allies. I have a purpose. And I have a future.

But I also have enemies—enemies who are closer than I ever imagined.

Richard turned from the window and walked to his desk.

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