Chapter 8 - Fire in the Estate
Julian's eyes darted wildly around the room, realizing every single captain had abandoned him.
"If I'm going to hell, Roman, I'm taking your empire with me!" Julian screamed, his finger tightening around the trigger of the revolver.
Above the ballroom, I didn't think.
I grabbed a heavy bronze decorative vase from the service balcony ledge and threw it over the railing with all my strength.
The three-pound bronze vessel crashed directly onto Julian's shoulder, throwing his aim off just as he pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The shot fired wild, shattering a mirror on the far wall.
Roman moved with the terrifying speed of a striking viper. He closed the distance in a split second, grabbing Julian's gun wrist, twisting it violently until a sharp bone-crack echoed through the room.
Julian shrieked in agony, dropping the revolver.
Roman grabbed his half-brother by the lapels of his gray suit, lifting him off his feet, and slammed him hard against the heavy mahogany council table.
"You tried to kill me in my own city," Roman growled into Julian's face, his voice vibrating with absolute rage. "You sent men to slaughter an innocent woman in an alleyway."
"Roman... please..." Julian sobbed, blood dripping from his nose. "We're blood! Family!"
"Family doesn't cut family," Roman whispered coldly.
Roman drew his own weapon, pressing the barrel against Julian's shoulder, and fired once—permanently severing the nerve cluster in Julian's shooting arm.
Julian collapsed to the floor, screaming and clutching his shoulder, completely neutralized.
Roman stood over him, his face a terrifying mask of absolute authority. He turned to face the forty terrified council members cowering against the walls.
"Julian Bianchi is stripped of all titles, assets, and bloodline rights," Roman announced, his deep voice carrying into every corner of the vast ballroom. "He will spend the rest of his life in a maximum-security facility in South America under my private guard."
He paused, his dark eyes sweeping across the room.
"Does anyone else wish to challenge my leadership?"
Silence fell over the room. Every single boss bowed their head in absolute submission.
"Good," Roman said.
May you like
He turned his head, looking up toward the second-floor service balcony. His hard, terrifying expression melted instantly into a warm, look of profound gratitude as his eyes locked onto mine.
"Nora," Roman called out softly over the microphone. "Come down here."
