Chapter 5 - When the Bellini Family Made Their Fatal Mistake
By eight o’clock the next morning, the Moretti estate was under silent lockdown.
Marco had doubled the security guards at the perimeter gates.
I was in the private kitchen preparing black coffee and fresh pastries for Luca when the main entrance doors were thrown open with a crash.
Heavy boots echoed across the marble foyer.
“Luca!” a booming voice shouted.
It was Victor Bellini.
Victor was a broad, silver-haired man in his late fifties, dressed in a charcoal cashmere overcoat that cost more than my entire year's tuition would have. Behind him walked his two sons, Antonio and Dante—two arrogant men known throughout the city’s nightlife for their violent tempers.
Vanessa followed behind them, her face pale, dressed in an immaculate white dress that seemed designed to project innocence.
I stepped into the hallway holding the coffee service tray.
Victor saw me first.
“You,” he barked, pointing a thick, ringed finger at me. “Where is Moretti?”
Before I could reply, Luca descended the grand staircase.
He wore a tailored dark navy suit. His expression was as unreadable as granite.
“You’re shouting in my home, Victor,” Luca said calmly from the third step.
Victor stopped at the base of the stairs, breathing heavily.
“My daughter called me in tears at two in the morning, Luca. She says you insulted her in front of the servants. She says you let some washed-up quack doctor wave a piece of junk in her face and accused our family of treason.”
Luca reached the ground floor and walked past Victor without stopping, heading straight toward the formal living room.
“Come inside,” Luca said. “Let’s talk like business partners.”
The Bellinis followed him into the room.
Luca glanced over his shoulder.
“Nora. Bring the coffee.”
“Yes, Mr. Moretti.”
I entered the room behind them, placing the silver pot and porcelain cups on the glass table.
Vanessa glared at me with pure venom.
“Why is this girl still in the house, Luca? I told you last night she’s insubordinate.”
Luca sat in the single armchair at the head of the room.
“Nora works for me now, Vanessa. Her employment is no longer your concern.”
Victor leaned over the table, his face reddening.
“Let’s stop playing games, Luca. What is this nonsense about a watch? My brother died twelve years ago. Michael died fifteen years ago. Whatever bad blood existed between the old men was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery.”
“Is that why you offered Dr. Adler fifty thousand dollars yesterday, Vanessa?” Luca asked, his voice razor-sharp.
Vanessa gasped softly.
Victor turned his head sharply toward his daughter.
“You did what?”
“Dad, I didn't—” Vanessa stammered, her composure cracking. “I was just trying to stop him from creating problems! He’s senile!”
“Dr. Adler is not senile,” Luca said. He picked up a document from the side table and tossed it onto the glass. “This is the ballistic report from October fourteenth, nineteen ninety-eight. The bullet taken from my chest was a specialized nine-millimeter hollow-point imported through your private customs terminal in Gary, Indiana.”
Victor’s eyes widened slightly.
“That means nothing. Thousands of crates came through those docks.”
“It means everything,” Luca said, standing up. “Because your brother didn't act alone, Victor. You signed the customs clearance yourself. And the car that transported the shooter was registered to a shell company owned by your current holding group.”
Antonio Bellini took a step forward, his hand slipping inside his coat.
“Are you threatening my father, Luca?”
Before Antonio could draw his weapon, the side doors opened.
Marco and four armed security guards entered silently, their firearms drawn and leveled directly at the three Bellini men.
The air in the room turned freezing cold.
Luca didn't even look at Antonio.
“Take your hand off your piece, Antonio, or Marco will remove your arm.”
Antonio hesitated, looking at Marco’s cold eyes, and slowly pulled his empty hand out of his jacket.
May you like
“You’re making a catastrophic mistake, Moretti,” Victor hissed, his voice dropping into a venomous growl. “Without the Bellini faction, the commission will split Chicago in half. You’ll be fighting on five fronts.”
“Then I’ll fight on five fronts,” Luca replied. “Get out of my house.”
Related Stories
