Chapter 6: The Stand
243 Words
The meeting was held on neutral ground—a private dining room in a restaurant owned by neither family. Vincenzo Rossi sat at one end of the table, Giovanni Moretti at the other, their lieutenants flanking them like soldiers ready for battle. Isabella and Luca stood side by side, their hands brushing but not touching, a silent show of unity.
Luca spoke first, his voice steady. “The traitor was one of ours. He’s been dealt with. The shipment’s been recovered, and we’re prepared to make repairs.”
Vincenzo’s eyes narrowed. “Reparations? You think that’s enough to fix this, Moretti? Your man spit on our truce.”
“And he paid for it,” Luca said, his voice hard. “But if we keep tearing each other apart, the feds win. The streets win. We all lose.”
Isabella stepped forward, her heart pounding but her voice clear. “This marriage wasn’t just a contract. It was a promise—to end the bloodshed, to build something stronger. If we walk away now, we’re throwing that away. I won’t let that happen.”
Her father’s gaze softened, just for a moment, and she saw something she hadn’t expected—pride. Giovanni, too, seemed to reconsider, his eyes flicking to Luca with a grudging respect.
The room was silent, the tension a living thing. Finally, Vincenzo nodded. “One chance,” he said. “Prove this works, or I’ll bury you both.”
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