Chapter 6 - The Shadows of Queens
While peace had settled over the estate in Oyster Bay, the streets of Queens were shifting under the heavy hand of Lorenzo’s reorganization.
Inside a private room above an Italian restaurant in Little Italy, Lorenzo sat at the head of a long mahogany conference table. Surrounding him were the six capos who controlled the various territories of the Moretti crime family. The air was thick with the smell of espresso, roasted garlic, and tobacco smoke.
Paulie sat to Lorenzo's right, presenting the financial ledgers that had been recovered from Vincent Costa’s safe houses.
"Vincent was skimming three percent off the shipping docks in Long Island City," Paulie reported, sliding a ledger toward the capos. "He was laundering the cash through a string of shell car-washes in Brooklyn. He was planning to set up his own operation in Jersey by the end of the year."
The capos murmured among themselves, exchanging nervous glances. In their world, ambition without approval was a death sentence, but skimming from Lorenzo Moretti was pure insanity.
"Is the Queens territory fully secured, Paulie?" Lorenzo asked, his voice calm, dropping over the table like a lead weight.
"Yes, Boss," Paulie nodded immediately. "We replaced Vincent's lieutenants with loyal men this morning. There was no pushback. Everyone knows what happened to Vincent."
One of the older capos, a grey-haired veteran named Carmine who had served under Lorenzo’s father, cleared his throat cautiously.
"Lorenzo," Carmine began, choosing his words with immense care. "The street understands why Vincent had to go. Skimming is treason. But... there are rumors floating through the boroughs. Word is that Vincent was executed not just for the money, but because of some girl at your estate. A servant."
The room went dead silent. The other capos held their breath, waiting for Lorenzo’s reaction.
Lorenzo didn't move a muscle. He slowly raised his dark eyes, fixing his gaze on Carmine until the older man shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Are you questioning my motives, Carmine?" Lorenzo asked softly.
"No, Boss," Carmine said quickly, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Never. I am only telling you what the men are saying. They say a maid caused the downfall of an underboss. It makes some of the captains nervous about... security."
Lorenzo leaned forward, resting his hands flat on the table. The sheer force of his presence seemed to shrink the entire room.
"Let me make something entirely clear to everyone sitting at this table," Lorenzo said, his voice echoing off the wood-paneled walls like thunder. "The woman at my estate is under my personal protection. She is not a subject of gossip for my captains, nor is her name to be spoken on the street."
He paused, letting his gaze sweep over every capo in the room.
"If I hear a single whisper regarding her from any of your crews, I will consider it a direct insult to my honor," Lorenzo continued coldly. "And the consequences will be identical to what happened to Vincent Costa. Am I understood?"
"Understood, Boss," the capos answered in unison, nodding fervently.
"Good," Lorenzo stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. "Meeting adjourned. Paulie, come with me."
As they walked down the back stairs toward the waiting SUV, Paulie stepped beside his boss. "Boss, we have another issue. Vincent had a younger brother—Dominic. He was running a crew in Miami, but he landed at JFK two hours ago. He’s asking questions about Vincent's disappearance."
Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed slightly as he pulled open the heavy door of his vehicle.
"Dominic was always dumber than his brother," Lorenzo remarked coldly. "Have Matteo place a team around the perimeter of the estate. If Dominic tries to come anywhere near Oyster Bay, do not bring him to me. Put him in the ground."
"Understood, Boss," Paulie said, bowing his head as Lorenzo stepped inside the car.
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As the armored SUV drove away toward Long Island, Lorenzo looked out the rain-streaked window at the grey skyline. The violence of his world was constant, a never-ending chess match of power and betrayal. But for the first time in his life, as he thought about the quiet, brown-eyed girl waiting for him in the west wing of his mansion, Lorenzo felt a strange urgency to return home.
He wasn't just returning to an empty estate anymore. He was returning to a sanctuary he was determined to protect at all costs.
