My Husband Betrayed Me — I Took His Empire Chapter 06

My Husband Betrayed Me — I Took His Empire Chapter 06

The Feast of the Seven Fishes was held in the main hall of Valentino Estate.

The long dining table was arranged in a U shape.

The fire in the fireplace burned brightly, and wreaths made of holly branches hung from the ceiling.

The Capos and family elders arrived one after another.

Dark suits and black coats filled the room, with the occasional flash of a ring or the glow of a cigar.

I took my seat on the left side of the main table.

I wore a dark green cashmere dress.

It wasn’t bought with the card Luca Russo had given me.

It was the dress Don Enzo had sent me last autumn.

My hair was pinned up, and the only jewelry I wore was a pair of thin gold hoops that had belonged to my mother.

Luca Russo sat at the center of the long table.

That was where Don Enzo used to sit.

Tonight, Luca looked every bit like the man in charge.

His suit was perfectly tailored.

His tie was new.

His cufflinks were gold with blue sapphires, a pair I had never seen before.

At exactly eight o’clock, he stood and raised his glass.

He spoke about the family’s honor, the achievements of the previous generations, and the legacy they had built.

His voice was steady and confident.

Fiona O’Malley sat on the right side of the main table.

She wore a white dress.

Vivian had sent me the information ahead of time.

Fiona had given birth two days earlier.

A boy.

Six pounds and four ounces.

The child had been left in a territory controlled by The Irish Mob and was not brought here tonight.

But Fiona’s stomach was already flat again.

She sat at the table with a wine glass in her hand, smiling like a woman who had officially been

welcomed into the family.

Several Capos glanced in her direction and exchanged looks.

Luca put down his glass and cleared his throat.

He said there was an important family matter he wanted to announce.

His face was slightly flushed, as if he had been waiting a long time for this moment.

Fiona’s hand moved beneath the table and gently touched his arm.

Иowered my eyes and checked my phone.

Vivian’s message was there.

[DeLuca’s people replaced security at all dock locations forty minutes ago. The North Highway checkpoint is now controlled by the retired soldiers. The notes under The Commission members’

seat cards are still untouched.]

I turned my phone face down on the table.

Then I stood up.

The legs of my chair scraped softly against the floor.

Luca’s words stopped.

Everyone turned toward me.

“Sofia?”

“Before you announce your important family matter, I want to say a few words.”

I picked up the wine glass in front of me.

I didn’t drink.

Instead, I tapped my finger lightly against the glass twice.

The crisp sound traveled through the silent hall.

“Recently, I investigated some things.”

I looked around the room.

“About our family’s businesses.”

Luca’s expression began to darken.

But I didn’t give him a chance to speak.

I opened the black briefcase beside me and took out the first item,

The voice recorder.

I placed it on the table.

Then I pressed play.

Luca Russo’s conversation with The Irish Mob filled the dining hall.

Three minutes.

No one said a word.

When the recording ended, I placed the ledger on the table,

The pages with red markings were opened in front of everyone.

“Westside Docks.”

“Warehouse 7.”

“North Highway.”

I looked at the people around me.

“The profits from these routes.”

I tapped the ledger.

“His cut was thirty percent for The Irish Mob.”

Then I placed the copy of the Territory division agreement beside it.

“And this.”

I lifted the document.

“The plan to hand over the Territory built by three generations of Valentino blood.”

My voice stayed calm.

“He wanted to give Westside Docks to The Irish Mob.”

“The condition?”

I looked at Luca.

“He would keep Main House and half of Eastside Casino.”

“The transfer date was set for one week after this dinner.”

The room erupted.

One of the Capos stood up.

“Luca Russo, what is this?”

Luca’s face had turned pale.

He stood, both hands pressing against the table.

His knuckles were white.

“Fake.”

His voice was cold.

“Sofia Valentino, where did you get this?”

“The hidden compartment in your trunk.”

I looked directly at him.

“Your armored Cadillac.”

His expression changed.

“You forgot Giuseppe Bianchi retired.”

The moment he heard Bianchi’s name, his pupils tightened.

Fiona O’Malley stood up.

Her hand rested on the table.

Her voice trembled.

“Luca, I really don’t know anything about any recording. I…”

“Miss O’Malley.”

I turned toward her.

“You aren’t Luca Russo’s lover.”

The room fell silent.

“You are the niece of The Irish Mob’s Westside branch Capo.”

Her face changed.

“‘Blood bond.””

I spoke slowly.

“That was what they called it.

“They used you to keep Luca Russo tied to them.”

I looked at her.

“Where was your child baptized?”

“What symbol was carved into the church windows?”

“I have the photograph.”

I paused.

“Do you want me to show everyone right now?”

Hér lips moved.

But no words came out.

By then, Luca Russo had already stepped away from the table.

His eyes swept across the Capos sitting around him.

“Everyone, this happened suddenly.”

His voice remained controlled.

“I suggest we suspend the meeting until everything is investigated properly…”

“No.”

I interrupted him.

“There is no need to suspend anything.”

I turned toward the elders seated on the right side of the table.

“Starting now, we begin the vote regarding Luca Russo’s position as Acting Don.”

My voice echoed through the hall.

“The Commission has eleven votes.”

“Everyone, cast your vote.”

The four people who had originally supported Luca lowered their heads at the same time.

Their fingers tightened beneath the table.

They could feel the notes hidden under their seat cards.

No one spoke.

“Now.”

I looked at Marco Russo.

…..

“Your vote.”

Marco sat behind Luca’s right shoulder.

His entire face was pale.

His fists were clenched.

Slowly, he raised his right hand.

Palm facing outward.

Against.

I looked toward the five elders sitting at the far end of the table.

The five men Don Enzo had called back.

They sat silently.

Their cigars rested in the ashtrays.

One by one, they raised their hands.

Palms facing outward.

Against.

Eleven votes.

Six against.

Luca Russo stood in the center of the long table.

His hand was still pressed against the surface.

He looked at Marco.

Then at the five elders.

Then at the four people who had lowered their heads.

And finally, he understood.

Tonight had already gone beyond his control.

“Luca Russo.”

I stepped forward.

I stood directly in front of him.

Then I took the ring from my pocket and placed it on my finger.

The Valentino family crest caught the firelight.

His pupils shrank.

“The things three generations of Valentinos fought for were never meant to be given away.”

I looked at him.

“After I finish speaking, The Commission has ten minutes to decide your punishment.”

“Exile.”

“Or execution.”

“You choose.”

Fiona O’Malley had already started crying.

Her voice was low and broken, like she could barely breathe.

Luca looked at her.

Then he turned back to me.

After a long silence, he removed his hand from the table.

He took half a step back.

“I choose exile.”

I stood in the center of the long table.

Behind me was the glow of the fireplace.

In front of me were the ledger, photographs, and recorder scattered across the table.

The place where Luca Russo had been sitting was now empty.

“Before tomorrow, hand over every password for the shell companies.”

“All records of your offshore accounts.’

“And every communication record between you and your contacts on the front lines.”

I looked at him.

“After that, you leave this city.”

“Forever.”

I didn’t look at him again.

I returned to my seat.

I picked up the glass of wine I had tapped earlier.

And took a sip.

It was cold.

But somehow, it tasted right.