At the grand casino, was tention as the Mafia lords gathered for the meeting. Each one, dressed in suits as sharp as their eyes, represented decades of power and control over the city's underworld. But today, fear and unease hung in the air. The sudden fall of Dominic, the brutal attack on Carlo. The balance Leonardo had kept
is drifting.
Vincenzo, Santoro, and Matteo. Three men who were next in line to replace the late Leonardo at the head of the table, sat amidst the older Mafia lords. The air buzzed with whispers, each man eying the others with suspicion. The absence of Leonardo, the former Mafia lord who had kept their world in order, was felt.
Vincenzo who's older, cautiously spoke first, with a calm firm voice. "We've all seen what happens when there's no clear leadership. The fall of Dominic and Calo. This is not some coincidence. It's deliberate. We need to put aside our differences and restore order."
"We wouldn't be in this mess if Leonardo were still alive. One of the elders mumbled in frustration.
Santoro smirked with a cold voice, staring at his face. "Oh, you mean Leonardo? The almighty kingpin who thought he could rule forever? Let's not pretend he was invincible. I'm the one who brought him down. I killed him. And if anyone here thinks they can take me out, they will end up just like him."
The room fell into a stunned silence.
Some of the elder lords exchanged nervous glances. Santoro's admission sent a shockwave through the table. No one had openly claimed responsibility for Leonardo's assassination until now.
Vincenzo echoes trying to calm the room "Let's not turn this into a bloodbath. We've lost enough already. The streets are in chaos. What we need now is stability, not more power grabs."
Santoro who wasn't convinced by Vincenzo words uttered. "Stability? That's what you call being afraid of a man who's six feet under? If you all want order, you will follow me. I'm the one who's shown the strength to lead this table. And if anyone crosses me, they will go down just like Leonardo."
Matteo, who had remained silent throughout most of the meeting, finally spoke up, his voice calm but commanding.
"We've all seen what happens when a man overplays his hand. Be careful, Santoro. The same power that raised you up can tear you down."
Santoro's smirk faded slightly as he met Matteo's gaze. For a brief moment, it seemed like the room might erupt into violence, but the presence of Shadow standing behind Matteo, was enough to keep Santoro in check. The fear of Shadow's reputation was palpable. No one in the room doubted the stories they had heard about him.
The meeting ended on uneasy terms. No clear decisions were made. Matteo gestured for Lucas to follow him as they prepared to leave. The pair walked through the hallway leading to the casino's exit. The ornate chandeliers above cast long shadows as they approached the doors.
As they neared the exit, Lucas's sharp eyes noticed the signs of a struggle. Matteo's men, who had been posted outside to ensure their safety, were either unconscious or groaning in pain. Brook, Jim, and Kally Matteo's trusted men lay bruised and battered on the ground.
Brook, struggling to stand, tried to speak, his voice hoarse from pain. "They hit us out of nowhere. It was an ambushed."
Mr. Matteo uttered with his voice filled with anger, fists clenched. "Whoever did this just declared war. I want names."
Lucas stood, his gaze sweeping over the scene, piecing together the attack. His mind worked quickly, processing the information. The ambush had been well coordinated, a direct challenge to Matteo's growing power and by extension, a challenge to test Lucas weight as well. But whoever had orchestrated the attack hadn't expected him to be here, and that was their mistake.
Matteo's face was grim as he motioned for Lucas to escort him back to the car. They moved swiftly, leaving the bruised men to recover as best they could. Lucas's senses remained on high alert as they made their way through the winding streets back to Matteo's estate.
Inside the safety of Matteo's heavily guarded mansion, Matteo's rage boiled over. slams his fist on the desk, with a growling anger. "They think they can send me a message like this? This was Santoro's doing. He's pushing, trying to break me."
Matteo turns to Lucas, his voice quite but more intense "Shadow, I need you to find out who led the ambush. If Santoro's behind this, we will strike back twice as hard."
Lucas nodded, his mind already working on the next move. Santoro had revealed much during the meeting his arrogance, his overconfidence. Now, Lucas have gotten the information he needed about his father's death. Santoro was responsible for Leonardo's assassination, and now it was clear that he was aiming for complete control of the Mafia.
As Matteo paced the room, Lucas remained still, his thoughts locked on the bigger picture. The attack had been bold, but it also exposed weaknesses in Santoro's position. Lucas had learned much from the meeting about his father, about the power struggle brewing in the shadows. But more importantly, he knew the time to strike back was coming.
Matteo pausing, looking at Lucas "You've proven yourself more than once, Shadow. But now, we are moving into dangerous territory. The war is coming, and I need you more than ever."
Lucas met Matteo's gaze with a cold, determined look then muttered. "I will handle it."
As the night deepened, Lucas knew that this was only the beginning. Santoro had made his move, but Lucas was already planning his counter. The man who killed his father had declared war and Lucas was ready to fight back with everything he had.