Chapter 65
The Venetti war room was quieter than usual, but the tension was palpable. Marco stood at the head of the table, staring down at the latest reports with a mixture of anger and frustration. Carmen sat nearby, her arms crossed as she read the same papers. The silence was broken only by the faint murmurs of Sergio Montini and Pietro, who stood in the corner, speaking in hushed tones.
“They’re questioning you,” Sergio said finally, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
Marco’s head snapped up. “Who?”
“Some of the smaller families,” Sergio replied. “They’ve heard the rumors—about the Consortium, about the attacks. They’re starting to think you can’t protect them.”
Marco’s jaw tightened. “I’ve protected them for years. Now, because of a few setbacks, they’re ready to jump ship?”
“It’s not just the setbacks,” Pietro interjected, his tone cautious. “They’re blaming Carmen. Saying her influence is making you… soft.”
The room fell silent. Carmen’s eyes narrowed, but she remained quiet, waiting for Marco’s response.
“Soft?” Marco said, his voice dangerously low. “What part of this war feels soft to them? The bloodshed? The attacks? The fact that my wife has done more to keep us standing than half of them combined?”
“It’s not about the truth,” Sergio said carefully. “It’s about perception. The Consortium knows how to exploit doubt. They’re feeding these rumors to weaken your position.”
Marco slammed his fist on the table, making everyone jump. “Enough. I don’t care about their doubts. If they want to question my leadership, they can say it to my face.”
Carmen placed a hand on Marco’s arm, her voice calm but firm. “Marco, this isn’t just about pride. The Consortium is using this division to break us apart. If we don’t address it, we’ll be fighting a war on two fronts—against them and against ourselves.”
Marco turned to her, his eyes softening slightly. “What do you suggest?”
“We bring them back into the fold,” Carmen said. “Remind them what loyalty means. Show them that standing with us is their best option.”
“And if they don’t fall in line?” Marco asked.
Carmen’s gaze hardened. “Then we remind them of the consequences.”
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The next evening, Marco and Carmen sat in the estate’s courtyard, discussing strategies to shore up loyalty among their allies. The air was cool, and for a moment, the chaos of their war seemed distant.
Their moment of peace was shattered by the sound of Luca’s hurried footsteps. He entered the courtyard, his face pale.
“You need to see this,” Luca said, handing Marco a folder.
Marco opened it, his expression darkening as he scanned the contents. Carmen leaned over his shoulder, her stomach twisting as she saw the photographs inside.
A dockyard reduced to rubble. Charred remains of crates and containers. Bloodied bodies of workers who had been caught in the blast.
“What happened?” Carmen asked, her voice tight.
“The Consortium hit one of our allies’ shipments,” Luca said. “It was meant to supply the Costa family in Naples. Dozens of dock workers were killed in the explosion.”
Marco flipped to the last photo in the folder. It was of a singed piece of paper found among the wreckage. Written in bold, scrawled letters were the words: “The sins of the Venettis will bring ruin.”
Marco clenched his fists, his voice a low growl. “They’re sending a message.”
“They’re trying to scare us,” Carmen said, her tone sharp. “But they’ve underestimated us.”
Luca hesitated before speaking again. “The Costa family is furious. They’re blaming us for dragging them into this war. If we don’t act quickly, we could lose their support.”
Marco stood abruptly, his fists slamming against the table. “Then we make the Consortium regret ever touching what’s ours. We retaliate.”
Carmen stood as well, her voice calm but resolute. “We will. But not recklessly. We need to hit them where it hurts most—strategically, not emotionally.”
Marco turned to her, his eyes blazing. “They killed innocents, Carmen. They’ve declared war on more than just us—they’ve declared war on everything we stand for.”
“And we’ll make them pay for it,” Carmen said, her voice steady. “But we have to do it right. If we act out of rage, we’ll fall into their trap.”
Marco stared at her for a long moment before nodding. “Then we plan. But when we strike, they’ll know what it means to cross the Venettis.”
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That night, as the estate settled into an uneasy quiet, Marco and Carmen gathered their closest advisors in the war room. Maps and reports were spread across the table, detailing Consortium operations and potential targets.
“We don’t just retaliate,” Carmen said, pointing to a key location on the map. “We dismantle their entire network. Supply lines, safe houses, communication hubs—everything. We cut them off piece by piece until there’s nothing left.”
“And we send a message of our own,” Marco added, his voice filled with quiet fury. “One they won’t forget.”
Sergio nodded, his earlier doubts replaced by determination. “We’re with you, Marco. Just say the word.”
As the meeting adjourned, Marco and Carmen remained in the war room, their eyes on the map that represented both their empire and their enemies.
“This is going to get worse before it gets better,” Carmen said softly.
“I know,” Marco replied, his hand brushing hers. “But as long as we’re together, we’ll get through it.”
Carmen met his gaze, her voice steady. “We’re stronger together. Don’t forget that.”
Marco nodded, his grip on her hand tightening. “I won’t.”
Outside, the night stretched on, but for the Venettis, the battle was only beginning. Their enemies were in the shadows, but Marco and Carmen were ready to bring them into the light—and destroy them.
