Chapter 10 - The First Command
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The tension in the room ratcheted up to an agonizing level. Men were sweating through their expensive suits, too terrified to even look at each other.
Matteo let the silence stretch, torturing them with it. He slowly scanned the faces of his lieutenants, making a mental note of exactly who was sitting close to Lorenzo, and who had the decency to look deeply ashamed.
“I apologize for interrupting the festivities,” Matteo said loudly, his voice carrying easily to the back of the room. “I know my presence is… inconvenient for some of you.”
He turned his sharp gaze to a man sitting near the middle of the table. Silvio, a mid-level enforcer who had always been loud, greedy, and stupid.
“Silvio,” Matteo called out.
Silvio flinched as if he had been struck. “Y-yes, Boss?”
“I heard you laughing when I was in the hallway,” Matteo said calmly. “Tell me the joke. I could use a good laugh.”
“It… it wasn't a joke, Boss,” Silvio stammered, his eyes wide with panic. “I swear. It was nothing.”
“I don't like being lied to, Silvio. You know that,” Matteo’s voice dropped an octave, dripping with lethal intent.
Silvio looked desperately at Lorenzo for help, but the usurper was staring firmly at the floor, abandoning his pawn instantly.
Matteo casually reached into the inside pocket of his tailored jacket. The movement was smooth, unhurried, but it sent a shockwave of panic through the room.
He pulled out the heavy black 9mm pistol and placed it flat on the pristine white tablecloth.
May you like
The sound of the metal hitting the wood echoed like a cannon shot.
“Let me make something perfectly clear to everyone at this table,” Matteo said, his voice entirely devoid of emotion. “My legs may be broken. But my trigger finger works just fine. Now, everyone who doesn't want to die in this room tonight... get the hell out of my house.”
