Chapter 9 - The Final Ledger
An hour later, three black SUVs pulled into the gated entrance of Arthur Romano’s private medical estate in the quiet hills of Westchester.
The estate was silent. Lev’s men had neutralized Arthur's private guards without firing a single unsilenced shot.
I walked into the ruined library, stepping over shattered glass and broken mahogany bookshelves.
Uncle Arthur sat bound in his wheelchair in the center of the room, his face bruised from the flying glass, his expensive silk robe torn. Standing behind him was Lev, holding a tactical shotgun against his neck.
I walked over, pulling a leather armchair from the corner, and sat down directly across from the old man. I was covered in dried blood, my shoulder bandaged, my face scarred. I looked like the grim reaper himself.
Behind me, the library door opened softly.
Grace walked into the room, holding hands with Olivia, Sophie, and Nora.
Arthur looked up, his pale blue eyes widening as he saw my daughters walking freely, their eyes clear, their quiet fear completely gone.
"Dominic..." Arthur stammered, his confident demeanor finally cracking into genuine panic. "What... what are you doing? Why did you bring the children here?"
"I brought them so they could see the monster under their bed," I said calmly.
I reached into my coat, pulled out my Colt .45, and laid it flat on the mahogany table between us.
"Forty years ago, Arthur," I said, leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "You built an empire on blood, fear, and betrayal. You thought everyone had a price. You thought my wife was expendable, and my daughters were collateral."
"Dom... please..." Arthur whimpered, his breathing shallow. "I'm your blood! I raised your father! You can't murder your own flesh and blood in front of these children!"
I looked back at my daughters.
Olivia took a step forward, holding her younger sisters' hands tightly. She looked at Arthur—the man who had funded the nightmare that stole their mother—and spoke in a clear, strong voice that rang through the quiet room.
"You aren't our family," Olivia said. "Our daddy is our family."
Sophie nodded, her eyes fierce. "And Daddy isn't afraid of you anymore."
Arthur blinked, tears of terror leaking from his old eyes as he realized his authority, his money, and his legacy meant nothing in this room. He was just an old, broken man facing the consequences of his sins.
"Grace," I said softly, not taking my eyes off Arthur. "Take the girls out to the car."
Grace nodded gently. "Come on, girls. Let's go wait outside."
The girls turned without hesitation, walking out of the room with Grace, leaving the door slightly ajar.
I picked up the heavy Colt .45 from the table.
"Dominic! Wait! I have millions in offshore accounts! I can give you—"
BANG.
May you like
A single shot echoed through the estate.
I walked out of the library thirty seconds later, sliding my weapon back into my holster, wiping a fleck of dust from my lapel. The Romano syndicate was dead. The Council was shattered. The ghosts had finally been laid to rest.
