Chapter 6 - The New Order of the East District
Three weeks had passed since the morning the white pill was swapped on the silver tray, and the underworld of the city had settled into a new, unshakeable equilibrium.
The transition that Vincent Moretti had tried to force through poison and deceit had instead become a brutal reminder to the entire syndicate of who truly ruled. Dr. Elias Voss was currently facing multiple federal indictments for medical malpractice and pharmaceutical fraud, his license revoked forever. Clara Wynn had been quietly relocated to a quiet coastal town far from any access to high-profile medical cabinets. And Vincent? Vincent was learning what physical labor truly meant at an isolated timber camp upstate, far away from designer suits and boardrooms.
Inside the sprawling mahogany-paneled study of the Bellavita mansion, Rocco sat behind his grand desk. The morning light poured through the tall arched windows, illuminating the heavy oak bookshelves and the polished brass globe in the corner.
The heavy double doors swung open softly, and Luca stepped inside, holding a thick manila envelope.
“Boss,” Luca said respectfully, stopping two paces from the desk. “The financial audit for the South District shipping lanes just came in. Marco Vane and Salvatore Rossi handled the transition smoothly. No resistance from the rival crews. They know better than to test us right now.”
Rocco didn’t look up from the document he was reviewing. “And the security audits?”
“Tightened across all properties,” Luca replied. “Every staff member has been re-vetted. And… regarding the Carter family, the trust fund paperwork has been fully finalized with our legal counsel. Not a single penny can ever be touched or disputed by any future board members.”
Rocco finally set his pen down, leaning back into his leather chair. A faint, satisfied smile crossed his lips. “Good. Make sure Mariah has everything she needs for Sophia’s upcoming enrollment in the private academy downtown. I want her escorted properly—no flash, just quiet, reliable protection.”
“Consider it done, boss,” Luca said, turning to leave.
“Wait, Luca,” Rocco added.
Luca turned back. “Yes, sir?”
“How is the little girl adjusting to the change?” Rocco asked, a hint of genuine curiosity in his voice.
Luca’s stern face cracked into a rare, faint grin. “She’s running the courtyard, boss. Yesterday she told one of the new gardeners that his rose-trimming technique was ‘sloppy and smelled like old paper.’ The gardener nearly had a heart attack.”
Rocco let out a low, amused chuckle. “The child has an eye for detail. Never underestimate anyone with an eye for detail, Luca.”
May you like
As Luca exited and closed the study doors behind him, Rocco stood up and walked over to the window. Down in the courtyard below, he could see Sophia skipping along the stone path, her yellow hair tie bouncing in the breeze, holding her mother’s hand as they walked toward the front gates for her very first day of school.
The empire of the Bellavita family was secure—not because of fear, or bullets, or forged legal papers, but because a five-year-old child had remembered the smell of old paper and saved a dying king.
