Chapter 6 - The Man Who Ordered Bianca's Death
Warehouse Fourteen smelled of salt, diesel, and old wood.
Lorenzo entered alone.
At least, that was what Vittorio Dane believed.
The old man stood beneath a hanging industrial light wearing a charcoal suit and holding a cane.
“You look like your father,” Dane said.
Lorenzo stopped twenty feet away.
“My father trusted you.”
“Your father understood power.”
“You killed my wife.”
Dane sighed.
“I killed no one.”
“You ordered the car hit.”
“I ordered your car hit.”
“My wife was inside.”
“A tragic mistake.”
Lorenzo's expression didn't change.
Dane continued.
“You became weak after her death.”
“You've been watching my family for six months.”
“I've been watching an empire collapse.”
“My empire is fine.”
“No.”
Dane stepped closer.
“You closed businesses. You stopped expansion. You rejected the New York alliance. You spend your nights playing father.”
Lorenzo almost smiled.
“You sound disappointed.”
“I spent twenty years building what your father left you.”
“You worked for him.”
“I created him.”
Dane's voice sharpened.
“And then he handed everything to a boy who thinks love matters.”
Lorenzo stared at him.
“That's why you came after Nico.”
“I would never hurt the child.”
“You put a man inside my house.”
“To remove him temporarily.”
Lorenzo's fists tightened.
Dane smiled.
“There. That's the Lorenzo Vitale I remember.”
“No.”
Lorenzo took one step forward.
“That man would've killed you the moment he walked in.”
Dane's smile faded.
“You think fatherhood changed you?”
“Yes.”
“It made you weak.”
“You made the same mistake Sofia did.”
Dane frowned.
“Who?”
“The woman who taught me something.”
Lorenzo looked toward the dark catwalks.
“Fear and obedience aren't the same thing.”
Lights snapped on.
Matteo appeared above with six men.
Two police vehicles rolled through the far warehouse doors.
Dane stared.
“What have you done?”
Lorenzo remained calm.
“Something my father never would've done.”
“You brought police into family business?”
“Not police.”
A man in a federal jacket stepped forward.
Dane's face changed.
“Federal task force.”
Lorenzo nodded.
“The legitimate companies you mocked?”
Dane looked around.
“They gave me lawyers, records, clean accountants, and something men like you never understand.”
“What?”
“An exit.”
Dane laughed.
“You think they'll let you walk?”
“No.”
Lorenzo stepped closer.
“But they'll take you first.”
Matteo handed an agent a drive.
“Financial transfers. Murder payments. Surveillance orders. Mercer's statement. Everything.”
Dane's confidence disappeared.
“You betrayed your own blood.”
Lorenzo shook his head.
“You're not my blood.”
Dane lunged.
It happened fast.
A hidden blade came from his cane.
Lorenzo caught his wrist.
They struggled briefly.
Dane hissed, “Your father would be ashamed.”
Lorenzo twisted the weapon away and shoved him against a crate.
“My father is dead.”
Agents surrounded Dane.
Lorenzo stepped back.
“And I'm done living for dead men.”
Dane was handcuffed.
As agents dragged him away, he shouted, “You think this ends because you go home and play house?”
Lorenzo didn't answer.
Matteo walked beside him.
“Everything changes after tonight.”
“I know.”
“The families will test you.”
“I know.”
“You may lose territory.”
“I know.”
Matteo looked at him.
“You really don't care?”
Lorenzo stopped.
“For six months, I thought protecting my son meant becoming more dangerous.”
“And now?”
“It means becoming available.”
Matteo smiled.
“You realize Sofia is going to say she told you so.”
“If she values her employment, she won't.”
Matteo laughed.
“You don't know her at all.”
Lorenzo's phone rang.
Sofia.
He answered immediately.
“What happened?”
Her voice was urgent.
“Lorenzo.”
His heart stopped.
“What?”
“Nico woke up.”
Silence.
Then Lorenzo exhaled.
“You sounded terrified.”
“I am terrified.”
“Why?”
“Because he wants breakfast.”
Lorenzo looked at the clock.
It was 11:38 p.m.
“Sofia.”
“He says you promised pancakes.”
“I never promised pancakes.”
“He says fathers who come home make pancakes.”
In the background, Nico shouted, “Chocolate chips!”
Lorenzo closed his eyes.
Sofia laughed.
“You heard the boss.”
Lorenzo looked toward the warehouse exit.
For the first time in years, he wasn't thinking about who needed to fear him tomorrow.
He was thinking about getting home.
May you like
“Tell him I'm coming.”
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