Chapter 10 - The Lion’s Wrath and the Trial of Broken Loyalty
Later that afternoon, I held my final assembly in the reinforced basement of the Holay Tower.
Dante, Christian, Silas, and the remaining twenty loyal commanders of the syndicate stood in a semi-circle around the iron table. There were no drinks, no casual banter. The air was thick with the weight of an epoch coming to an end.
I placed the master ledger and the corporate seal on the center of the table.
"As of midnight tonight," I announced, looking each man in the eye, "the Holay Syndicate ceases to exist as an underworld entity. All remaining contracts are settled. All debts are forgiven. The legitimate commercial assets will operate under the Holay Global Corporation, managed by a board of directors headed by Christian and Dante."
A murmur of shock rippled through the commanders, but Silas stepped forward, raising his hand to silence the room.
"We knew this day was coming," Silas said, looking at the men who had bled beside us for two decades. "Mercer gave us an empire. He kept us alive when the Morettis tried to bury us. He has earned the right to choose his own peace. Anyone who has an objection can step forward and settle it with me right now."
No one moved. Not a single man raised his voice.
One by one, the commanders stepped forward, bowed their heads in deep respect to me, and placed their syndicate insignia on the table.
"Thank you, Boss," Dante said, shaking my hand with genuine emotion. "You gave my family a life we never could have dreamed of."
"Live it well, Dante," I replied.
When the room emptied, only Silas remained behind. He looked at me, a crooked smirk on his face as he adjusted his new silver tie.
"So," Silas said quietly. "The King abdicates his throne for a woman and a child."
"Not just any woman, Silas," I said, smiling faintly. "And not just any child."
Silas laughed softly, clapping a heavy hand on my shoulder. "You were always a terrible mob boss anyway, Mercer. You had too much of a soul left."
May you like
"Take care of the city, Silas."
"The city will be fine," Silas said, turning toward the elevator. "Take care of your family."
Related Stories
