The execution of Marco and the others had been a brutal amputation, necessary, Salvatore told himself, but the phantom pain was relentless. The Rossi family, once a monolith of power, now felt fractured, the fault lines running deep beneath the veneer of respect. The immediate aftermath was a chilling calm. Everyone was on their best behavior, outwardly mourning Marco while inwardly calculating their next move. Salvatore knew it wouldn't last. Power abhors a vacuum, and the void left by Marco was already attracting ambitious contenders. His most immediate concern was Lorenzo, Marco's son. Lorenzo had always been volatile, prone to rash decisions and fits of rage. He was fiercely loyal to his father, and Salvatore knew it was only a matter of time before grief turned to vengeance. He had men watching Lorenzo, of course, but the young man was slippery, adept at disappearing into the labyrinthine streets of the city. Then there was Isabella, Marco's daughter. Her words in his study still echoed in his mind, sharp and accusatory. He knew she wouldn't seek revenge through brute force; her weapon was her intellect, her ability to manipulate and sow discord. He had underestimated her once; he wouldn't make that mistake again.But the biggest threat came from within his own inner circle. His consigliere, Angelo, had been a loyal servant for decades, but Salvatore had noticed a subtle shift in his demeanor, a newfound confidence in his eyes. Angelo had always been ambitious, but he had always known his place. Now, Salvatore sensed a hunger, a desire for more.Salvatore knew he had to act decisively. He couldn't afford to let the power struggles fester, to allow the family to descend into a bloody civil war. He summoned Angelo to his study, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife."Angelo," Salvatore began, his voice calm but firm, "I need your loyalty now more than ever. The family is fractured, and we need to restore order."Angelo nodded, his expression unreadable. "Of course, Salvatore. You have my unwavering support."Salvatore studied him carefully, searching for any sign of deception. "I need you to investigate Lorenzo," he continued. "Find out what he's planning. And keep a close eye on Isabella. I suspect she's more dangerous than she appears.""Consider it done," Angelo replied, his voice smooth as silk.As Angelo left the study, Salvatore felt a sense of unease. He had entrusted Angelo with a crucial task, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being played. He knew he had to be prepared for anything, to trust no one. The execution of Marco had been a necessary evil, but it had unleashed a storm of ambition and betrayal that threatened to consume everything he had built. The fight for control of the Rossi family had just begun, and Salvatore knew that only the strongest would survive.
