Chapter 7 - The Shadow of Valenti
By noon, the Wisconsin safehouse was transformed into a tactical war room.
A massive digital satellite map of Chicago was projected onto the log wall of the cabin, displaying the territory lines of the five major syndicate families that formed the Commission.
Marcus, his head bandaged from the firefight at the estate, stood beside Evelyn, pinning satellite surveillance photos of Don Valenti’s private estate in Gold Coast onto a corkboard.
"Don Valenti called an emergency session of the Commission for six o'clock tonight," Marcus reported, pointing to the primary photo of a grand limestone mansion near the lakefront. "He’s telling the other four bosses that Matteo has gone rogue, murdered his own guards, and hidden the Varric heir to avoid a corporate audit."
Matteo sat at the head of the dining table, cleaning the slide of a sleek black pistol with a cloth. "He’s trying to get the Commission to sanction a strike against me before I can present the genetic evidence."
"If the Commission sanctions the strike," Evelyn warned, "all fifty syndicate crews in the city will be hunting us by nightfall. We won't make it to the weekend."
Liana walked over from the kitchen, holding a folder containing the certified DNA records from Dr. Vance and the digital audio recording from Nurse Sarah.
"Then we don't let them vote," Liana said firmly.
Every head in the room turned to look at her.
She had traded her red maid dress for a dark sweater, tailored black trousers, and leather boots provided by Evelyn. Her hair was tied back in a neat, commanding braid. She no longer looked like a grieving maid hiding in the shadows; she looked like a woman ready to tear down an empire to protect her son.
"Liana," Matteo said quietly, setting his cleaning cloth down. "The Commission meeting is held at the Valenti Manor. It is a fortress. Entering that room means walking into a room full of sixty armed cartel bosses who hate my family."
"They don't hate you, Matteo," Liana countered, her eyes flashing with sharp intelligence. "They fear you. And Don Valenti is using that fear to make them think you are unstable."
She laid the DNA documents flat on the table.
"In the mafia code," Liana continued, her voice clear and unwavering, "what is the punishment for a boss who steals a child from another member’s bloodline and murders hospital staff to cover it up?"
Matteo’s jaw locked. "Execution. By decree of the Commission."
"Then we don't fight them in the streets," Liana stated, looking directly into Matteo’s grey eyes. "We walk into that Commission meeting tonight. You present the syndicate authority... and I present the mother’s proof."
Marcus gasped. "Boss! Bringing Liana into the Valenti Manor is suicide! If Valenti’s men realize who she is, they’ll open fire immediately!"
Matteo stood up slowly. He walked around the table until he was standing inches from Liana. He looked down into her fierce blue eyes, seeing the absolute lack of fear in her soul.
"Are you ready for this, Liana?" Matteo asked softly. "Once we step through those doors, there is no turning back. You will be claiming your place as the sovereign mother of the Varric line."
Liana reached down, taking Nico’s small silver rattle from her pocket—the rattle Matteo had bought for his son months ago.
"Don Valenti made me bury a grave full of ashes," Liana whispered, her jaw set in stone. "Tonight, I’m going to make him answer for every tear I shed."
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Matteo smiled—a dark, terrifying, beautiful smile.
"Evelyn," Matteo ordered, turning to his security chief. "Prepare the armored convoy. Get the black suits ready. Tonight... the Varric family attends the summit."
