After Bleeding Me for Two Million, My Brother Dragged Me to the Family Council

The first thing my brother did after returning from his studies in Europe was drag me before the family council.I worked myself to the bone in the rundown bar our Capo father left me, doing anything to pay for his life in Europe. He always promised over the phone, "Just one last time. I'll pay you back once I marry rich."But today, a summons from the family arrived at his request, demanding I be stripped of my birthright and forced to hand over the bar and our territory.This time, I wouldn't indulge him. I glanced at the photo he sent, a brazen shot of him with a woman whose name carried weight, then turned and pried open the hidden compartment beneath the bar."Maeve, did you get the summons from the family council?"Leo's voice came through the receiver. He sounded like someone I didn't know. Cold and arrogant, a high society playboy. A tone I had never heard from him before.I was standing in the family tavern. I cradled the phone between my shoulder and ear and scrubbed hard at

Saint Cecilia's Church was at the end of the old town, its walls peeling and the stained-glass image of the Virgin Mary faded. The side door was ajar. I pushed it open, and the hinges creaked.In the main hall, only two old women were lighting candles in the front pew. Nico had told me to meet him in the sacristy. It was a small room where priests once changed their vestments, now just a storage space for old relics and a single iron chair.Everyone in the family knew this was Nico's meeting place. According to the old ways, business that couldn't see the light of day was spoken in God's ear.I pushed open the sacristy door. Nico was already there, sitting.He was thinner than I remembered from my father's memorial last year. His graying hair was combed meticulously, his suit jacket draped over the back of the chair. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing an old scar that ran from his wrist to his forearm."Maeve, sit." He gestured to the leather chair opposite him,

After that, I went through my contacts and made my first call to old Sal, my father's most ferocious enforcer. The phone rang for a long time before Sal's gravelly, congested voice came through. "Who is it? Got a death wish?""Sal, it's Maeve.""Little Maeve?" He was instantly awake. "What's wrong?""Sal, I need a favor." I gave him the short version.There was a long silence on the other end, followed by a heavy sigh. "Maeve, I told you back then, don't waste your heart on a boy who's ashamed of his own blood. Now look. He's brought a wolf to your door.""So, will you testify for me at the council meeting?" I asked."Testify? At the council?" Sal's tone turned hesitant. "This… airing your dirty laundry in front of the bosses is humiliating. Why don't you just give in? For the old Capo's sake, settle this privately.""He already served me papers, Sal.""Sal," my voice was steady, but each word carried weight. "I've defended the territory Dad left with my life for six years. I even went

The arbitration chamber in the club's basement was even grimmer than I had imagined. Since my grandfather's time, every major decision for the Conti family had been made at this long table.Nico was waiting for me at the door. Dark gray suit, hair combed perfectly in place. He looked me up and down. "Nervous?""A little," I said."That's normal. Remember, think before you answer. Don't rush it. If they try to set a trap, I'll shut them down."I nodded, my palms slick with cold sweat.Seated in the center of the long table were the five members of the Council, their hair white, their faces carved from stone. An aide announced the start of the session and verified the capos' identities. Then, the petitioner and his counsel entered.Leo and Juliana walked in.The entire room went quiet for half a beat.Leo wore a tailored silk shirt, his hair meticulously styled, looking like a princeling who'd never known a day of hardship. Juliana followed him in a custom-tailored navy suit, the Valenti

The fifteen-minute recess stretched on for what felt like a century.Nico helped me out of the suffocating basement chamber, my knees nearly buckling from the sustained tension. In the hallway, a few of my father's old-school soldiers had gathered, crowding around with a clamor of voices:"Maeve, you've been through hell…""How could that kid Leo turn out like this…""Hang in there. The elders will give you a fair ruling."Uncle Vincent pushed through the crowd and handed me a glass of whiskey with ice. "Take a drink to steady your nerves, kid. Your rebuttal in there was beautiful. It was hard on us old guys, listening to all that."I took the glass, thanking him, but the ice cubes clinked against the sides. My fingers were trembling too much to hold it steady.Nico reached out and supported the bottom of the glass, his voice low and raspy. "Go to the bathroom, splash some water on your face. We'll be hearing the final verdict soon."I nodded and walked down the dim corridor toward the