My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 700

Chapter 700

Then, Gianna.

She climbed from the last vehicle without looking in my direction. She kept her eyes on the ground and I forced myself to look away.

If I looked any longer…

I wasn’t sure I’d remember why I was angry.

“Capone.”

I turned, the front doors of the estate opened. A man in his late sixties stepped outside wearing a perfectly tailored suit.

Silver hair, sharp blue eyes. A scar running beneath one ear.

Don Cesare Orsini.

The man responsible for arranging every Council gathering held on Sicilian soil.

He smiled politely, “Welcome home.”

He shook Vincenzo’s hand before greeting the rest of us.

“You’ve all been given rooms,” his eyes swept across every member of our family, “The Council begins tomorrow evening.”

He stepped aside, the enormous wooden doors opened completely.

Inside, the entrance hall stretched upward nearly three stories. Marble pillars supported a ceiling painted centuries ago with scenes of saints, kings and battles long forgotten. Crystal chandeliers hung overhead. The marble floor reflected every step. Servants moved silently through the corridors carrying luggage toward the family wings. Every hallway held another armed guard.

No one trusted anyone enough to leave security to someone else.

As we entered the grand hall, I immediately recognized the first family.

The Costellos.

Every conversation in the room seemed quieter around them. At the center stood Nikolai Costello.

The man every boss answered to when the Crime Families failed to reach peace themselves.

He wasn’t the oldest man in the room. He wasn’t even close, yet everyone watched him. Power didn’t always arrive with age. Sometimes, it simply walked into the room and expected the world to move aside.

Nikolai wore a perfectly fitted black three-piece suit without a single crease. No jewelry, no unnecessary display. He didn’t need one, the confidence in the way he stood was enough.

Beside him stood his wife, Evangeline.

Their son, Massimo, stood with pride on his face beside his father. His small suit matched Nikolai’s almost perfectly

His daughter, Anastasia, hid behind her mother’s hand before peeking curiously around her toward the arriving families.

Nikolai noticed us and a slow smile crossed his face, “Capones.”

Vincenzo stepped forward first. The two men shook hands briefly before stepping apart.

“It’s been too long, Vincenzo.” Nikolai’s voice carried the kind of calm that only came from years of standing on opposite sides of the same battles.

Vincenzo’s mouth curved into a humorless smile, “Not long enough, Nikolai.”

A few men nearby went quiet, watching the exchange.

Nikolai only gave a low chuckle, lifting his glass slightly, “Still carrying that temper of yours.”

“And you’re still carrying that arrogance.”

The two men stared at each other for a moment.

Within minutes…

Five great families stood beneath one roof.

Costello.

Capone.

Visconti.

Falcone.

Deverecci.

Enough wealth to purchase countries. Enough soldiers to start wars. Enough influence to end governments.

And yet…

Tomorrow…

Everything would revolve around one young woman standing quietly near the back of the room.

Gianna still hadn’t looked at me, neither had I allowed myself to look at her again.

Because if I did…

I might remember the woman I loved…

Instead of the witness I needed.

Janedoewritings Author