Page 131 of Deception

“I’ve done my duty, and I earned their respect.”

“The only thing you’ve earned is a fall from glory. You trust too much. You take too much for granted. You’re not a suitable leader.”

“And you are? What kind of leader takes children and the elderly as hostages in the dead of night?” I’m shaking, barely holding my rage at bay.

“One who acts. Who takes and gives back. All of their loved ones are already home, safe and sound.”

“Until you decide to take them again, right? Until you need to coerce them into doing what you want again.”

“That’s called power,piccolo. Now they know I am strong. Not only that, they know I follow through on my word. That I will decisively dole out punishment or justice when necessary. That is how a real don behaves.”

He's right. And yet he's so wrong.

“So, what am I supposed to do now? Concede? Swear my fealty to you?” I scoff, opening my hands wide. Several members of the council flinch, watching me closely.

“No, as much as I would love to keep you under heel…they have their instructions.”

Two men step behind us, blocking the door.

“Ah. I see.” Adriano settles.

“I’d like to say I’ll see you around, old friend. It was good to see you. Or at least the look on your face.Andare con Dio, fratello.”

The call cuts off, the screen going black.

Vito steps around, a sickly pale tinting his skin. “I am sorry, Alessandro.”

The rest of the elders avert their eyes, leaving Vito as their spokesman.

“So, you’re just going to do what? Kill all four of us?”

“No.” He swallows. “Just you.”

“I'd say over my dead body. But that's kind of the point isn't it?” I laugh humorlessly.

Ciro snickers, leaning against the wall. “We could always shoot our way out,” he mutters under his breath.

But none of us really want that. Well, all of us except maybe Fiero. He could have a knife in every single throat before I could give the order.

“No. This is our family. I won’t harm them, even now.”

Vito sighs, his face crumpling. He waves for the rest of the crowd to go and most file out, leaving a small handful of the most prominent members of my council and their guards.

“So we’re just supposed to stand here and let you kill our brother?” Adriano asks, his nostrils flaring.

“You can stay, or go. I just have to do it here, on camera.” He points back to the computer facing us. Dom must still be watching.

“We’re not going to let this happen…” Adriano growls, stepping forward, his hand on his gun.

I hold out a hand, stopping him as every guard in the room takes aim at us.

“None of you want to do this. I understand. May I have a moment to say goodbye to my brothers?”

Vito waves and steps back to the far side of the long board room, his guards keeping their guns trained on me. They know exactly how deadly we can be when pushed into a corner.

“Good God, everything just went to shit in a handbasket didn't it?” Ciro exclaims quietly, once we are huddled.

“It'shellin a handbasket,” Ero corrects.

---