Vanessa claimed Sophie injured herself on a garage door, until Luca noticed the blood, the wheelchair, and one terrified look that told him his mother was missing. / Chapter 46 / 50

Chapter 46 - Council of Severed Heads

By midnight, the *Nereid* docked in the hidden subterranean sea cave beneath the Fortress of San Lorenzo.

The fortress was a monolithic relic of mid-century brutalism and medieval stonework, carved directly into the granite sea cliffs. High concrete battlements bristled with heavy machine guns, while searchlights swept the crashing Atlantic surf below.

Inside the Great Hall, a long oak table sat beneath vaulted ceilings hung with iron chandeliers. Thirty armed men in black tactical gear stood along the perimeter, submachine guns resting against their chests.

Sitting around the table were seven men—the surviving capos of the Moretti Syndicate's outer territories. They were nervous, sweating through their silk suits, exchanging terrified glances as Dante stood behind them, his hands folded over the pommel of a shotgun.

The heavy double doors swung open.

I walked into the hall at Luca's side. I wore a high-collared black velvet dress that concealed the bandages on my shoulder, my hair swept up, my chin held high. Beside me, Luca was magnificent and terrifying—clad in a tailored charcoal suit, his coat unbuttoned to reveal the twin holsters beneath his arms. Behind us walked Carmela, wearing the silver matriarchal signet of the Moretti house.

The capos scrambled to their feet, bowing their heads in unison.

"Don Luca," Capo Varga stammered, his hands trembling as he smoothed his tie. "We... we heard the news of the Citadel. We thought... God forgive us, rumors spread that the patriarch had taken control..."

Luca walked to the head of the table. He didn't sit. He rested his palms on the polished wood, leaning forward, his gaze sweeping over the seven men like a scythe over dry wheat.

"The Citadel fell," Luca said, his voice quiet, vibrating with absolute authority. "Antonio Moretti is dead. His body is ashes beneath seventy floors of rubble."

A collective shiver ran through the room.

"And Vanessa Sterling?" asked Capo Morelli, swallowing hard. "Her family controls the northern ports..."

Luca signaled to the doorway. Two guards stepped forward, carrying a heavy metal case. They dropped it onto the center of the table with a loud *thud*. Dante reached over and flipped the latches, kicking the lid open.

Inside lay dozens of encrypted data drives, financial ledgers, and a severed gold signet ring bearing the Sterling family crest.

"The Sterling empire is liquidated," Luca stated coldly. "Their holdings now belong to the Donna of this house." He extended his hand toward me.

The capos turned their eyes toward me, shock registering across their faces.

"Sophie Rossi," Luca declared, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "Granddaughter of Bernardo Moretti. The rightful heir to the foundation. And my future wife."

Capo Varga’s mouth hung open. "Bernardo’s blood? But... the succession..."

"The succession is absolute," Carmela stepped forward, her voice ringing like a bronze bell. "Anyone who questions her blood questions mine. Anyone who raises a hand against her raises war against the entire Moretti name."

Luca drew his sidearm, placing the heavy steel weapon flat against the oak table. "You have sixty seconds to swear your fealty to Sophie and me. Or you leave this fortress in a body bag."