Chapter 8 - The Signatures
Blood dripped onto the white paper spread across the oak table.
Marco’s breath came in ragged, terrified gasps as Salvatore’s grip finally released his throat. He slumped against the chair, coughing violently, clutching his broken nose with trembling, blood-stained fingers.
"Sign," Salvatore commanded coldly, tossing a heavy steel pen beside the envelope.
"Salvatore... please..." Marco wept, his former arrogance completely shattered. "Leave me something... a single account... how am I supposed to live?"
"You get to keep your life," Salvatore said flatly. "That is more mercy than you gave Elena four nights ago."
With shaking hands, Marco picked up the pen. His signature was jagged and ruined as he signed away his properties, his import company, his Chicago penthouse, and his private bank accounts. Every single cent was transferred into a secure, irrevocable trust managed directly by the Moretti legal firm for Clara and Sofia Romano.
When the last page was signed, Salvatore picked up the document, reviewing the signatures with a satisfied nod.
"Gino. Paulie," Salvatore addressed the two chained men on the floor.
"Yes, Don Salvatore!" they choked out, terrified.
"You two will be stripped of your ranks and banished from Chicago by midnight," Salvatore declared. "If you step foot in Illinois again, my men will put you in the river."
He turned back to Marco, who was still kneeling by the table, wiping blood from his chin.
"And as for you, Marco..." Salvatore said, looking down at him with utter contempt. "You have one hour to clear your personal belongings from the Romano house. After that, if you come within five miles of Elena or her daughters, I will not send my men. I will hunt you down myself."
"I understand..." Marco sobbed, bowing his head to the stone floor. "I understand..."
"Get him out of my sight," Salvatore ordered.
Two guards grabbed Marco by his arms, dragging the broken lieutenant out of the subterranean chamber like garbage.
May you like
Salvatore adjusted his cuffs, turning to face his remaining captains, who stood in silent, awe-inspired respect.
"Let this be a lesson to every man in this room," Salvatore announced, his voice ringing clearly across the hall. "We fight enemies outside our walls. We do not wage war against women and infants in our own homes. Dismissed."
