Chapter 6 - The Council of Vipers
The grand ballroom of the Blackwood Hotel was bathed in golden light from crystal chandeliers, but the atmosphere inside was colder than a grave.
Dozens of high-ranking mob bosses, corrupt politicians, and influential brokers sat around a massive oval oak table. At the head of the table sat Don Moretti, a heavy-set man with thin silver hair and a smug, victorious smile. Beside him stood Sienna Ashford, dressed in a dazzling red gown, looking radiant yet visibly nervous.
"We are waiting on a man who can no longer even stand to greet his peers," Don Moretti announced to the room, his voice echoing off the gilded walls. "Elias Marchetti’s reign is over. He is weak, crippled, and his family is falling apart. To cover his weakness, he forced a poor, helpless housekeeper to impersonate his bride, trying to steal the Ashford family's legitimate vote!"
Sienna stepped forward, dabbing a fake tear from her eye. "It's true," she lied dramatically. "Elias threatened my family. He kidnapped my housekeeper, Maeve Donnelly, and forced her to sign those papers!"
Murmurs of outrage rippled through the gathered crime lords.
Suddenly, the heavy double doors at the far end of the room swung open with a resounding thud.
The room fell dead silent.
A sleek black wheelchair was pushed into the room by Mateo. Sitting in the chair was Elias Marchetti, his face pale, his dark eyes looking down at his lap, a heavy wool blanket draped over his legs. Walking right beside him, her head held high, was Maeve. She wore a stunning emerald green dress, her dark hair pinned up with diamond clips, looking every bit the ruthless queen of a dark empire.
Don Moretti laughed aloud, a cruel, mocking sound. "Look at you, Elias! Pushed in by a fake bride and a loyal guard! You bring shame to the commission!"
Sienna sneered, looking down at Maeve. "Give up the act, Maeve! You're nothing but a lowly servant girl playing dress-up! Tell them the truth, or you'll go to prison for fraud!"
Maeve didn't flinch. She stepped forward, standing in front of Elias’s wheelchair, just as she had done on the night the hitmen attacked.
"The only fraud in this room is you, Sienna," Maeve said, her voice clear, resounding through the silent hall like a chime. "You abandoned your commitment the moment you heard Elias was injured. You ran to Don Moretti because you thought the Marchetti empire was crumbling."
"Shut your mouth, servant!" Don Moretti barked, slamming his fist onto the mahogany table. "Guards, remove this woman! And take Marchetti into custody until the commission decides his fate!"
Four armed guards stepped forward, reaching for their holstered weapons.
Elias lowered his hands from his lap.
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He threw off the wool blanket.
And then, before the astonished eyes of thirty mob bosses, Elias Marchetti stood up from the wheelchair.
