Chapter 60
The whispers started slowly, like ripples in a pond, but it wasn’t long before the name spread across the underworld. The Shadow Consortium. It was a name that carried weight, spoken in hushed tones in smoke-filled rooms. Rumors painted the Consortium as a powerful syndicate with influence spanning continents, a faceless organization that thrived on chaos and control.
In the Venetti estate, the tension was palpable as Luca entered Marco’s office, his face grave. Carmen stood by the window, her arms crossed as she watched the courtyard below. Marco sat behind his desk, his fingers drumming against the wood as Luca laid a file in front of him.
“We have a problem,” Luca began.
Marco’s eyes narrowed as he flipped the file open. The first page was a detailed report, but his gaze snagged on a name scrawled in bold letters at the top: The Shadow Consortium.
“What is this?” Marco asked, his voice low.
“They’re not just a rumor anymore,” Luca said. “The Consortium has been funding rival families and mercenaries across Europe. They’re moving quickly, destabilizing organizations like ours. Arianna’s remnants aren’t working alone. They’re being propped up by this syndicate.”
Marco’s jaw tightened as he scanned the reports. “Why?”
Luca leaned forward, his tone serious. “Because we’re a threat. They want to destabilize us, weaken our position. Arianna was a tool for them, and now that she’s gone, they’re still coming for us.”
Carmen turned from the window, her expression sharp. “What’s their endgame?”
“Control,” Luca replied. “They don’t just back rivals—they take over entirely. They leave nothing behind.”
***
Later that evening, Carmen sat across from Marco in the quiet of the study. The fire crackled softly, but the warmth did little to ease the tension between them.
“We need to act now,” Carmen said, breaking the silence. “If the Consortium is backing Arianna’s loyalists, they’ll use them to create chaos. They’ll exploit every weakness we have.”
Marco leaned back in his chair, his expression dark. “And what do you suggest, Carmen? That we divide our forces even further? We’ve barely contained the fallout from Giovanni’s betrayal.”
“This isn’t about division,” Carmen said firmly. “It’s about strategy. The Consortium isn’t like the other families. They’re coordinated, calculated. If we don’t address this now, it’ll be too late.”
Marco rubbed his temples, frustration radiating from him. “We’re already stretched thin. I need to clean up the mess in-house before I can focus on an international ghost.”
Carmen’s tone softened, but her resolve didn’t waver. “And while you’re cleaning up, they’ll be gaining ground. Marco, this isn’t just your fight. It’s ours. We need to work together on this.”
Marco looked at her, the weight of her words sinking in. “You think I don’t want to? Every decision I’ve made has been for this family—for you. But how do I fight something I can’t even see?”
Carmen reached across the table, her hand brushing his. “We start by staying one step ahead. If Luca can find their connections, we can cut off their supply lines and isolate them. But we have to move now.”
Marco studied her for a long moment before nodding. “Fine. We’ll start with Luca’s intel. But if this backfires…”
“It won’t,” Carmen said confidently.
***
The following day, Luca returned with a lead that sent chills through the room. He stood before Marco and Carmen, his face pale as he recounted his findings.
“One of Arianna’s men—someone who survived the compound—was found hiding in the outskirts of the city,” Luca began. “He was willing to talk.”
“And?” Marco asked, his tone sharp.
Luca hesitated before continuing. “Arianna had plans to sell Venetti assets—territories, supply chains, even information about our allies—to the Consortium. It was her insurance policy. If she couldn’t take you down, she was going to hand you over to them.”
Marco’s hands curled into fists, his anger barely contained. “And now?”
Luca’s voice dropped. “The Consortium sees you as unfinished business. They’re not backing off. If anything, losing Arianna has made them more determined.”
Carmen inhaled sharply, her mind racing. “They’ve already invested in taking us down. They won’t stop until they get a return on that investment.”
Marco stood, his movements abrupt. “Then we give them nothing. They want our assets? We lock them down. They want chaos? We show them order.”
Carmen nodded, stepping beside him. “But we need to do more than defend. We need to find out who’s behind this. Who’s funding them, who’s calling the shots. Once we have that, we can cut the head off the snake.”
Marco turned to Luca. “Start digging. Use every contact we have. I want names, locations, anything that connects back to this Consortium.”
Luca nodded. “I’ll get it done.”
As he left, Carmen placed a hand on Marco’s arm. “This won’t be easy.”
Marco looked down at her, his expression softening slightly. “Nothing worth fighting for ever is.”
Carmen smiled faintly. “We’ll get through this. Together.”
Marco nodded, his resolve hardening. “Together.”
Outside the window, the city lights glimmered in the distance, a reminder of the empire they were fighting to protect. But in the shadows, a new enemy loomed, waiting to strike.
The battle was just beginning.
