Chapter 4 - Why the Underboss Tried to Silence a Helpless Maid
Alessandro walked back into the third-floor meeting room exactly two hours after he had left it.
The five men were still there.
The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on.
Damien was pacing near the window, a dead cherry-clove cigar clamped between his teeth.
Vincent was glaring at the table.
"Boss," Damien said, stopping his pacing as Alessandro closed the oak doors behind him.
"Is the situation handled? The girl was obviously confused."
Alessandro didn't sit down.
He walked over to the liquor cabinet, pouring himself a fresh glass of whiskey.
"The girl wasn't confused. Her mother was severely beaten in the laundry room."
Vincent frowned. "Who would attack a maid?"
"That is exactly what I intend to find out," Alessandro said.
He took a slow sip of his drink.
"No one leaves the estate tonight. The gates are locked."
Damien’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Alessandro, we have the Harbor Point shipment moving in four hours. I need to be at the docks."
"The shipment has been rerouted," Alessandro lied effortlessly.
"I made the call while the doctor was patching up the maid."
Damien’s hand twitched.
It was a microscopic movement, but Alessandro caught it.
If the shipment was rerouted, the Moretti family wouldn't be able to intercept it.
Damien’s entire setup was falling apart.
"Rerouted?" Damien asked, trying to sound casually concerned. "To where? The buyers will be furious."
"They will wait," Alessandro said coldly.
He set his glass down and pulled the silver serpent bracelet from his pocket, tossing it onto the walnut table.
It hit the wood with a heavy thud.
Vincent stared at it.
His hand instantly went to his bare wrist.
"That's my bracelet. I left it in the locker room upstairs before the meeting."
"It was found in the maid’s hand," Alessandro said.
Every eye turned to Vincent.
Vincent jumped out of his chair.
"Boss, you know me! I wouldn't beat a woman over some laundry! Someone planted that on me!"
"I know," Alessandro said.
He didn't look at Vincent. He looked straight at Damien.
"Someone took it from the locker room. Someone who wanted me to believe my enforcer had turned on me."
Damien met Alessandro’s gaze.
His face was a mask of perfect loyalty, but a drop of sweat formed near his hairline.
"A traitor," Damien said smoothly. "We need to interrogate the staff. The maid might be lying to cover for her own debts."
"She isn't lying," Alessandro said.
"How can you be sure?"
"Because she described a man who smelled of cherry tobacco. And walked with a limp."
The room fell dead silent.
Vincent slowly turned his head to look at Damien.
Damien didn't move.
He knew if he reached for his gun now, four men would gun him down before he cleared his holster.
He had to play it smart.
"She is a panicked woman," Damien said, his voice steady. "She could be manipulated by the real traitor. Let me talk to her, Boss. I'll get the truth."
Alessandro smiled. It was a terrifying sight.
"No one goes near the medical wing. You will all sleep in the guest quarters tonight. My personal guards are posted outside your doors."
Damien swallowed hard.
"You’re locking us up?"
"I am ensuring safety," Alessandro corrected.
He opened the door for them.
"Have a good night, gentlemen."
As the men filed out, Damien lingered for a split second.
He knew Alessandro suspected him.
But Alessandro didn't have hard proof yet.
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Damien just needed one opportunity to silence the maid permanently before she remembered anything else.
And Damien knew exactly who to call.
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