Chapter 12 - The War of Grain and Gold
Dawn broke over the city in streaks of cold slate and pale gold, revealing a metropolis on the brink of an economic earthquake.
In the soundproof basement of the estate, Dante laid a handwritten ledger and a burner phone onto Sebastian's desk.
The prep cook had broken completely within ten minutes of questioning, needing no violence, only the terrifying realization of what he had almost done.
"The contact was Vincent Caruso," Dante reported, his expression grim.
"Emilio's nephew."
"They paid off the boy's gambling debts and threatened to burn his family's apartment building if he didn't contaminate the pantry."
Sebastian sat back in his leather chair, his fingers drumming a slow, rhythmic pattern against the polished wood.
"Poison," Sebastian said, his voice dropping into a lethal whisper.
"Emilio has abandoned the code of the Five Families."
"He knows he cannot defeat us on the streets, so he resorts to the tactics of a coward."
The door to the office opened, and Elise walked in carrying a tray with two fresh cups of espresso and a warm plate of rosemary focaccia.
She set the tray down on the desk, completely unbothered by the tactical maps and surveillance photos spread across the surface.
"Eat something before you plan your revenge, Sebastian," Elise said gently, nudging the plate toward him.
Sebastian looked at the food, then up at her, a rare, tired smile touching the corners of his lips.
"You are feeding me while we discuss civil war, Elise."
"A man who makes decisions on an empty stomach makes mistakes," she replied, sitting down across from him.
"Now, tell me what you are going to do about Emilio."
"I am going to eliminate his distribution hubs," Sebastian said plainly.
"I am going to burn his docks and freeze his accounts until he has nothing left to negotiate with."
Elise took a slow sip of her espresso, shaking her head thoughtfully.
"If you burn his docks, you put hundreds of longshoremen and warehouse workers out of jobs."
"Those families will starve, and they will blame the Moretti name for their misery."
"Emilio will paint himself as a victim of your tyranny, and the other families might actually rally behind him."
Sebastian paused, his coffee cup hovering inches from his lips as he looked at her with genuine fascination.
"What would you do, Elise?"
"Hit him where his pride lives," Elise answered, leaning forward and tapping a finger against the logistics map on the desk.
"Caruso doesn't just control weapons and contraband, does he?"
"No," Dante interjected from the corner. "He controls sixty percent of the commercial grain, flour, and produce imported into the city's restaurant district."
"He holds a monopoly on the food supply of the elite," Elise smiled, a brilliant, dangerous spark in her eyes.
"Cut his contracts."
"Use the city health inspectors and the maritime commerce commission to expose his tainted shipments."
"Show the city that Emilio Caruso is poisoning their bread, literally and figuratively."
"Strip his legitimate business away in the light of day, and his underworld soldiers will abandon him when the paychecks bounce."
Sebastian stared at her in utter astonishment, a slow, predatory grin spreading across his face.
"You want to destroy a mafia don with commercial regulations and grain embargoes?"
"I want to destroy him with truth," Elise replied with quiet certainty.
"Violence is messy, Sebastian."
"Humiliation is permanent."
Giuseppe walked into the office at that moment, having overheard the entire conversation from the threshold.
The old man leaned against the doorframe, laughing so hard tears welled in the corners of his eyes.
"God in heaven, Sebastian, marry this girl before sunset!" Giuseppe bellowed, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief.
"She has more strategic sense than the entire Caruso board of directors combined!"
Sebastian stood up, walking around the desk until he was standing directly behind Elise's chair, resting his hands upon her shoulders.
"Draft the documentation, Dante," Sebastian ordered, his eyes never leaving Elise.
"Contact Commissioner Vance."
"Tell him we have an anonymous tip regarding hazardous contamination in Caruso's eastern grain silos."
"And call the district attorney."
"By noon, Emilio Caruso will find his bank accounts frozen by the federal government."
Elise looked up at Sebastian, her hand reaching up to cover his.
"And what about Valentina?" Elise asked quietly.
May you like
"Valentina built her throne on her father's stolen wealth," Sebastian said coldly.
"When the foundation crumbles, she will fall with it."
