Chapter 5 - The Final ReckoningMoretti realized he was cornered. Desperation clouded his judgment, and in a flash of blind fury, he reached inside his jacket for his concealed firearm.
"If I'm going down, you're coming with me, Falcone!" Moretti roared, drawing his pistol.
Before Moretti could even level the barrel, Carmine’s weapon fired with a deafening crack. The bullet struck Moretti’s shoulder, spinning him around and sending his gun clattering across the marble floor. Within a fraction of a second, four other guards had their weapons trained directly on Moretti as he collapsed backward into his chair, clutching his bleeding arm.
Gabriel didn't even flinch. He slowly poured himself a glass of water, took a sip, and looked at the wounded boss with absolute disdain.
"Take him outside," Gabriel ordered quietly. "Strip him of his territories in Queens and Brooklyn, freeze his legitimate business fronts, and ship him to a farm upstate where he can spend the rest of his days reflecting on his terrible manners."
Two guards hauled Moretti out of the ballroom, leaving a dark trail across the polished floor. The remaining bosses sat in stunned, absolute silence. The hierarchy of the East Coast had just been violently and permanently redrawn in less than five minutes.
Gabriel stood up, adjusting his cuffs, and looked around the table.
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"The old era of backstabbing, hidden plots, and rotting from within is over," Gabriel announced, his voice echoing authoritatively through the grand hall. "From this day forward, loyalty is rewarded, competence is valued above pedigree, and anyone who thinks they can undermine this family will meet the exact same fate."
He turned toward Elena, offering her his hand. She took it, standing gracefully beside him as the entire room of hardened criminals stood up in unanimous, respectful silence. The invisible maid had become the most powerful woman in New York.
