Chapter 9 - The Cleansing
The warehouse was completely silent when Gabriel walked up to stand beside me.
Carlo Romano and his entire crew had been systematically wiped out.
"The city is ours again, Boss," Gabriel said, looking at the carnage.
"Clean it up," I ordered, turning my back on Victor's lifeless body.
"And make sure every rival family in the country sees the pictures."
"I want them to know exactly what happens when someone tries to take my crown."
Over the next three days, my empire underwent a brutal, necessary cleansing.
Anyone who had aligned with Victor during his brief, false reign was eliminated.
The political landscape of the Chicago underworld was violently reorganized.
Fear and respect were restored in equal, terrifying measure.
But amidst the blood and the business, my priorities had drastically shifted.
I returned to the estate, which had been fully repaired and heavily fortified.
The air felt different now, no longer poisoned by unseen betrayal.
I walked into the sunlit garden, where the snow had finally melted into spring.
Sophia was sitting on a stone bench, drawing a picture of a large, beautiful house.
Elena was standing nearby, watching her daughter with a protective, anxious gaze.
I approached them slowly, keeping my hands visible and non-threatening.
May you like
"Mr. Moretti," Elena said, immediately straightening her posture.
"No more formalities, Elena," I said gently.
