Chapter 7 - The Final Dinner
The grand dining room of the Moretti mansion was a breathtaking display of opulent, dark luxury and excessive wealth.
The incredibly long mahogany table was set with pristine white linen, heavy crystal glasses, and polished silver cutlery.
Tonight was the annual syndicate dinner, a highly exclusive gathering of the family's top lieutenants and most powerful allies.
Adrian sat at the absolute head of the table in his wheelchair, wearing a perfectly tailored black suit that hid the massive, customized firearm strapped to his thigh.
He maintained the illusion of his severe illness, leaning heavily against the armrest and keeping his voice weak and raspy.
Marcus sat directly to Adrian’s right, wearing a triumphant, arrogant smirk that he could barely contain.
Marcus truly believed that tonight was the night Adrian would officially announce his retirement and publicly hand the entire empire over to him.
The heavy oak doors opened, and the servers began bringing in massive trays of incredibly expensive food and rare, imported wine.
"You look exhausted, Adrian," Marcus noted with fake, saccharine sympathy, pouring a glass of dark red wine and sliding it toward his boss.
"Perhaps after the main course, you should make your highly anticipated announcement so you can finally get some rest."
"You are absolutely right, Marcus," Adrian replied softly, staring blankly at the glass of wine.
"It is definitely time for a massive change in leadership."
The twenty men sitting around the table fell completely silent, sensing the incredibly heavy, shifting power dynamics in the room.
Marcus sat up straighter, puffing out his chest and looking around the table as if he already owned every single soul in the room.
"I have dedicated my entire life to this family, Adrian, and I am ready to carry your incredible legacy forward," Marcus announced proudly.
Adrian slowly picked up his heavy crystal wine glass, holding it up to the light of the massive, glittering chandelier.
"You certainly have dedicated yourself to my legacy, Marcus," Adrian said, his voice suddenly losing its weak, raspy quality.
The sudden strength and absolute clarity in Adrian’s voice made several men at the table shift uncomfortably in their expensive chairs.
Adrian turned his head slowly, locking his dark, completely lethal eyes directly onto Marcus's arrogant face.
"You dedicated yourself to burning my wife and four-year-old daughter alive in a twisted pile of metal and glass."
The entire dining room gasped in absolute, unadulterated shock.
Marcus’s triumphant smile instantly vanished, completely replaced by a look of sheer, panicked terror.
"Adrian, you are completely delirious, the illness is severely affecting your mind!" Marcus shouted, aggressively pushing his chair back and standing up.
"Sit down, Marcus," Adrian commanded, his voice echoing with terrifying, explosive authority.
"I said, sit down!"
Marcus froze, his hand instinctively reaching for the concealed weapon inside his suit jacket.
But before his fingers could even touch the grip of his pistol, the five loyal captains sitting around the table drew their weapons simultaneously.
Five suppressed handguns were aimed directly at Marcus’s head, chest, and stomach.
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Marcus slowly raised his empty hands, completely realizing that his brilliant, foolproof plan had violently imploded.
The absolute, devastating reckoning of Adrian Moretti had officially arrived.
