Chapter 7 - Christmas Morning, and the Mafia War Began
The first Christmas after Kane's conviction was peaceful.
The second was not.
A rival syndicate believed Vincent's empire was weak.
They wanted the shipping company.
They wanted Michael.
They wanted revenge.
On Christmas Eve, the Moretti gates came under attack.
Vincent was in the kitchen with Maisie when the first alarm sounded.
Clara stood at the counter.
“What is that?”
Vincent turned.
“Stay here.”
Michael entered with a weapon.
“North gate.”
Leo shouted from the hallway.
“Three cars.”
Vincent handed Maisie to Maria.
“Basement. Now.”
Maisie cried.
“I want Mommy.”
Clara kissed her.
“We'll come.”
The gunfire started.
Vincent and Michael moved together.
Four years ago, Vincent had fought alone.
Now his brother was beside him.
They defended the house.
The attackers were driven back.
But one man escaped.
Before leaving, he threw a red envelope through the foyer window.
Vincent picked it up.
Inside was a photograph of Clara.
And a message.
YOU CAN'T HIDE WHAT YOUR FATHER BUILT.
Vincent looked at Michael.
“They know.”
Michael nodded.
“They found something.”
“What?”
“The original vault.”
Vincent frowned.
“Where?”
Michael's eyes moved toward the basement.
The brothers searched the old estate plans.
A tunnel.
A hidden vault.
A place Vincent's father had never told him about.
They found it behind the wine cellar.
Inside were boxes.
Cash.
Weapons.
Documents.
And a list of names.
Not criminals.
Judges.
Investigators.
Politicians.
People still living.
People still powerful.
Vincent understood.
His father's network had survived.
Not because Kane built it.
Because Kane inherited it.
Someone else had inherited it after him.
A man named Victor Hale.
Former family accountant.
He had escaped prosecution.
Now he wanted everything.
The next morning, Victor attacked the charity hospital Vincent had funded.
That was the moment Vincent stopped thinking defensively.
He went after Hale.
But Clara stopped him.
“You can't become what you fought.”
Vincent stared at her.
“He attacked children.”
“He wants you angry.”
Michael nodded.
“She’s right.”
Vincent paced.
Then he smiled.
“You know what?”
Clara raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“We don't need to fight him.”
Michael understood.
“We expose him.”
They sent the documents to federal investigators.
The list went public.
Every corrupt name was exposed.
Victor Hale fled.
But the city closed in around him.
He was arrested at the airport.
Vincent returned home.
Clara was sitting beneath the tree.
“You won.”
Vincent shook his head.
“No.”
“What?”
“We did.”
Maisie climbed onto the couch.
“Did you catch the bad man?”
“Yes.”
“Are we safe?”
Vincent looked at Clara.
“Safer.”
Maisie thought.
“Can we have cookies?”
Vincent smiled.
“Absolutely.”
She ran to the kitchen.
Michael laughed.
“You've created a monster.”
“She learned from you.”
They sat together.
For the first time, Vincent realized something.
His life was no longer organized around danger.
May you like
It was organized around people.
That was a bigger victory than any enemy he had defeated.
