ys Later

Verona just after dusk, the sky

evening air brushing against my skin as

the air thicker, like it was

er-a silent, stone-faced man-nodded as I a

uiet hum of the engine the only sound as we drove through the

d me-thrust into a role I wasn't ready for, with

ed like an ancient fortress, its sto

an who had been part of the family long before I was

hick with cigar smoke, the scent swirling around

lating. They weren't here to welcome me. They were here to m

rcing my posture to reflect

o me, the whispers of discontent bar

with greying hair and a thick Ital

is the boy who thinks he can be Don?" He s

ust be turning

he table, the room buzzing with

ger bubbling beneath the surface. But I h

served, leaned forward, his fi

rian," he said slowly, his voice

about strength. And right now..." He paused, his eye

r a moment. Inside, doubt gnawed at me, the weight of the

that. I took a step forward,

steady. "If any of you think you can tear apart what he bu

ng for the cracks to show. But I sto

he heavyset man who had

better than us." He said. His hand s

aining kicked in. I reached under my jacket, the co

lade, and it sailed through the air, em

ded limb as blood seeped through his

rough the room as he stumbles back, collapsing in

his injury, blood seeping between his fingers. His breath c

dy, the room eerily silent as every pair of

sn't just my father's son-I

xpressions a mixture of shock and so

oice cold as ice. "Next time, I won't aim for the

s they can challenge me,

led the room moments before had been re

ear me like they feared my father. Because respect? That's for men who have so

mind, a darker truth surfaced-I didn't just need them to

ld, one I would have to wield with preci

rsing through me as the man sat there, n

f their gazes in turn. They weren't laugh

o play games. My father built this empire with blood and

ne, the men began to nod. They didn't respect me y

oned me earlier. He gave a small, approving n

llowed suit, their loyal

nothing. I could feel the shift in the room, the realization th

ng else-somet

rous. I knew that much. But for

orld, every v