Chapter 3 - The Price of Brotherhood
The music swelled, a chaotic crescendo of violins that masked the underlying tension vibrating through the grand ballroom. Alessandro spun Vivian gracefully, his grip firm, his eyes never leaving Luca across the room.
Luca tried to maintain his composure, taking a slow sip from his champagne flute, but the sweat beading along his hairline betrayed him. He looked away, scanning the exits, calculating his odds of slipping out into the Long Island night.
He didn't get the chance.
Two heavy-set security operatives materialized on either side of Luca, their movements quiet and absolute. They didn't draw weapons; they didn't need to. A gentle, unyielding hand placed on each of Luca’s elbows guided him backward through the heavy mahogany doors leading into Alessandro’s private study, entirely hidden from the view of the three hundred partying guests.
Vivian missed a step as she noticed the sudden disruption near the column. Her breath hitched.
“What is happening over there?” she asked, her voice tightening despite her best efforts to sound nonchalant. “Is something wrong with Luca?”
“Why would you ask about Luca specifically?” Alessandro’s voice was velvet-smooth, carrying a terrifying edge that made her blood run cold. “I only said someone was moving toward the study. How did you know it was him?”
Vivian swallowed hard, her fingers digging into the fabric of Alessandro’s suit jacket. “I—I saw him heading that way. Everyone knows Luca handles the estate logistics during these events.”
“Logistics,” Alessandro repeated softly.
He stopped dancing mid-measure, right in the center of the crowded floor, ignoring the confused glances of nearby politicians and syndicate bosses. He raised the crystal glass of Barolo high into the air, catching the light of the massive crystal chandelier above them.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Alessandro announced, his voice carrying effortlessly across the vast hall, silencing the musicians and the murmuring crowds in a matter of seconds.
Every head turned toward him. Vivian froze, a cold dread washing over her face as she realized what was happening.
“Thank you for celebrating this union tonight,” Alessandro continued, his gray-blue eyes sweeping over the silent, staring crowd. “A marriage is built on trust, partnership, and shared blood. But tonight, I am reminded that some vintage wines are best left unshared. To family... and to final reckonings.”
Instead of drinking, Alessandro turned and poured the dark red liquid directly onto the pristine white marble floor at Vivian’s feet. The wine sizzled slightly against the polished stone, the potent chemical scent rising into the air as the heavy sedative reacted with the marble sealant.
Gasps echoed around the room. Vivian staggered backward, her face turning the color of ash.
“Alessandro... you’re insane,” she whispered, her hands shaking.
May you like
“Not insane, Vivian,” he replied coldly, letting go of her hand as if she carried a plague. “Just awake.”
Without waiting for her defense, Alessandro turned on his heel and strode toward the private study, where Luca Romano was waiting in the dark.
