44

44
Alaric’s POV
The room was dimly lit, casting shadows over the faces of the gathered men, but that was intentional. I wanted the tension thick, the stakes apparent to everyone seated around the long, polished table. The neutral meeting location, an old mansion off the beaten path, was chosen to ensure no one could claim an advantage of home turf. Guiseppe sat near the head of the table, his expression stormy as he scanned the faces of everyone gathered. Key allies lined the sides, watching in uneasy silence as we prepared to lay bare the betrayal that had snaked its way into our circle.
I caught Ferraro’s gaze briefly as I walked in, noting the way he held himself. Confident, almost smug-he didn’t know yet. The traitorous family sat closest to the door, as if they had someplace to be. Good. I wanted them thinking about exits because, by the end of this meeting, they wouldn’t have many left.
“Gentlemen,” I said, taking my seat across from Guiseppe, who gave me a nod of acknowledgment. His patience was frayed, his usual composure hanging by a thread. After all, it was his men who had paid the price in blood, his shipments that had been targeted, and his reputation that had been put on the line. And now, here we were, about to reveal just who had instigated the attack.
“Thank you all for joining me today,” I continued, keeping my voice steady, each word measured. “I called this meeting because recent tensions within our syndicate have put us all at risk. Our alliances, our power… They’re only as strong as the trust we place in each other.”
The room shifted slightly, faces tense, attentive. Ferraro’s expression hardened, but he was playing it cool. I could tell he didn’t yet understand that this meeting was his reckoning.
“Last month,” I went on, “one of Guiseppe’s shipments was intercepted. Men were killed, valuable assets lost. It was no small incident; it was calculated, precise. At first, I suspected outside interference-perhaps the Cruz family, with whom I’ve had… issues.”
A murmur rippled across the table at the mention of the Cruz family, but I held up a hand, silencing it.
“But further investigation has proven otherwise.” I pulled out the stack of documents Allesio had carefully organized containing Ferraro’s plotting. “This was no external threat. The attack on Guiseppe’s assets was orchestrated by one of our own.”
Silence fell. Ferraro’s face, once smug, was now stone.
“These documents, conversations, recordings…” I placed them on the table, sliding a few copies over to Guiseppe, who seized them eagerly, flipping through with a growing scowl. “These pieces of evidence point to a single family within our circle who sought to weaken my alliances, steal my assets, and sabotage the very unity we’ve worked so hard to build.”
Ferraro’s mouth twitched, a flicker of panic breaking through his mask. The head of his family, Lorenzo, shifted uncomfortably beside him, shooting a glance at his son before turning back to me with a forced smile.
“This is a bold accusation, Alaric,” Lorenzo said, his tone carefully neutral. “Surely there’s been some misunderstanding.”
“No misunderstanding.” I kept my voice sharp. “The recordings are explicit, Lorenzo. Ferraro here had plans-grand plans, by the sound of them. Plans to rise up by tearing down those around him, using our alliances to his advantage while turning us against one another.”
Ferraro finally broke his silence. “Alaric, this is absurd,” he scoffed, his words dripping with feigned disbelief. “You think I would betray you? Guiseppe? I’m loyal to this syndicate. If there’s evidence, I demand to see it myself.”
He was scrambling, trying to take control of the situation, but it was too late for that. I slid the recording device across the table, nodding for Allesio, who pressed play. Ferraro’s voice filled the room, clear and unmistakable as he detailed his plot, talking about leveraging alliances, weakening my position, and ultimately seizing control.
The dam broke. The allies at the table sat stunned, while Guiseppe’s face contorted with a rage I hadn’t seen in years. Ferraro’s own men looked away, their loyalty shaken, and the remaining families cast cold, skeptical glances his way.
Guiseppe slammed his fist on the table. “After everything, Ferraro? After the loyalty we’ve shown you? Men died on that dock! My men. Your brothers. And for what?”
Ferraro opened his mouth, struggling to defend himself. “Guiseppe, please-this is all a misunderstanding. A setup. Alaric’s trying to sow discord-”
“Discord?” I cut him off, my tone icy. “You’ve already done that yourself. The only discord here is the one you caused by stabbing us all in the back.”
Guiseppe rose from his seat, his voice thick with disgust. “Your family has betrayed us, Ferraro. You’ve crossed a line, and there will be consequences.”
The families understood what this meant-a breach like this could never go unanswered. But I wanted more than retribution; I wanted to ensure that the message was loud and clear. No one, not even someone within my own ranks, could threaten what I’d built without paying the price.
“Let’s make this clear,” I said, my voice firm. “The syndicate is based on trust. Without that, we’re nothing more than a collection of warring factions. Ferraro’s actions have put everything we stand for at risk. I propose we cut ties with his family immediately, revoke all alliances, and bar them from any dealings within our organization.”
A murmur of agreement spread through the room. The allies were nodding, wary but united in their stance. Ferraro’s family had always been powerful, but without the support of the syndicate, they would struggle to survive.
Lorenzo looked as if he wanted to speak up, but he seemed to think better of it. Instead, he lowered his gaze, resignation settling over him. He knew what this meant. They all did.
Guiseppe looked to me, nodding in silent support. “I stand with Alaric on this. Ferraro has betrayed us all. His family will be cut off from the syndicate’s protection, its resources. And I expect the punishment will be swift and decisive.”
I met his gaze, a silent agreement passing between us. The punishment would be harsh, as it had to be. But it wasn’t only for the sake of retribution. It was a signal to anyone else who thought they could undermine our unity that betrayal had a cost-a cost they would not want to pay.
Allesio leaned over and whispered, “I’ve already begun severing their ties, cutting off their resources. By tomorrow, Ferraro will be isolated.”
I nodded, satisfied. Ferraro’s power would crumble, his allies would abandon him, and his assets would dry up. By the time we were done, he’d have nothing left.
Standing, I looked around the table at each of the men who’d gathered. “This is the strength of our syndicate,” I said. “Not the wealth, not the power, but the loyalty we have to each other. Let this be a reminder of what happens when that loyalty is broken.”
Guiseppe rose beside me, nodding in agreement. “From this day forward, let no man within our circle forget that betrayal will not be tolerated. We rise and fall together, or not at all.”
As I walked away from that table, I couldn’t shake a feeling. Ferraro’s betrayal was only the beginning. The alliances I’d built over years were strong, but they’d been shaken. Power always brought with it the shadow of ambition, and there would be others watching, waiting, testing the limits of what they could take.
Ferraro had made his move and paid the price, but this was a game of survival. I knew there would always be someone waiting in the wings, ready to seize power if they saw the chance. I just hoped I would be more than ready when that happened.