Chapter 19 - The Aftermath
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The cleanup of Blackwood Manor was swift, brutal, and entirely professional.
By dawn, the police chief—on the Blackwood payroll—had signed off on the incident as a foiled robbery by an unknown gang. The bodies of the Falcone hitmen and Julian were quietly disposed of in the deep waters of the harbor. The ballroom was scrubbed, the shattered glass replaced, and the guests were paid off to keep their mouths shut.
Emma sat in Victor’s private study, wrapped in a heavy wool blanket, watching the sunrise paint the sky in bruised shades of purple and orange.
She was exhausted. Her bones ached, and her mind was struggling to process the sheer amount of violence she had witnessed in the last eight hours.
The heavy doors opened, and Victor walked in. He had changed out of his ruined tuxedo into a simple black sweater and slacks. He looked tired, but the crushing weight of betrayal seemed to have lifted from his shoulders.
He walked over and poured two glasses of scotch, handing one to Emma.
She took it with trembling hands. “What happens now?”
“Now, the Falcone family pays a very heavy price for breaking a Syndicate treaty,” Victor said, sitting on the edge of his desk. “Marco is already coordinating retaliatory strikes on their shipping routes.”
Emma stared into her glass. “And what happens to me?”
Victor went still. He looked at her, searching her face for fear or regret.
“You know too much, Emma,” Victor said softly, the words hanging heavy in the quiet room. “You know how the house operates. You know how my security works. You know what I am capable of.”
Emma swallowed hard. In the mafia movies, the civilian who knew too much always ended up at the bottom of the river.
“Are you going to fire me?” she asked, a knot forming in her throat.
Victor actually laughed. It was a rich, deep sound she had never heard before.
May you like
He stepped forward, gently taking the glass from her hands and setting it on the desk. He knelt in front of her chair, taking both of her soft hands in his.
“I am never going to let you go, Emma,” Victor promised, his silver eyes burning with intense heat. “You saved my life. You proved that you possess a sharper tactical mind than half my capos. You are loyal, you are brilliant, and you are entirely fearless.”
