Beneath The Mask

ni sat at the head of a long table, encircled by men whose loyalty he had earned through violence and promises of power. The air was thick with t

he syndicate-one that Enzo was resolute in filling, regardless of the consequences. Unlike Dominic, who balanced shrewdness with calcula

sliced through the murmurs of the men around him. "He deserted the family, the syndicate

im. Yet beneath the surface, some harbored unease. Dominic's leadership had been steady, even if his with

spect, Enzo," he spoke carefully, "Dominic's strategy kept us out of the limelight. He knew ho

resonating off the walls. He glared at Lorenzo, his eyes icy and unyielding. "Dominic's approach is finished

ising the risks of continuing, leaned back in his chair and

of a Ruth

and brewing rivalries. Dominic had maintained order through a blend of charisma and intellect, understanding that loyalty could not al

nsigliere who had questioned Enzo's capability to lead. Aldo's demise was as brutal as it was symbolic, serving as a warning to anyone daring

While Dominic favored negotiation and alliances, Enzo saw only adversaries to defeat. Under his command, the syndicate grew

nds of

t merely a betrayal of the syndicate-it was a breach of their bond. They had constructed the empire together, side by s

lass of whiskey while replaying their final conversations. He recalled the uncertainty in Dominic's voice, the w

laced with venom. He gazed at the empty glass in his hand, his reflection disto

a rejection of everything they had fought for, everything they had sacrificed. It reminded Enzo of his own fears, his own uncertainties. Deep down, h

, retreating to a quiet corner of the world to reinvent himself. For Enzo, that was a fantasy, an ill

the years, Enzo embarked on a search for Dominic. He dispatched trusted lieutenants to

do Moretti. They stood among the shadows of a dockyard, the scent of sal

I don't care how long it takes or what it costs. Dominic

on as frigid as the night air

him to me. Alive. I want to look him in the

ces with ruthless efficiency, negotiating deals with drug cartels in South America and arms dealers in Eastern Europe.

men surrounding him feared him, yet none truly comprehended him. They followed his commands without hesitati

se of t

beat: Antonio Leoni. Although unfamiliar to most, Enzo recognized it immediately. It was an alias Dominic had utili

cantly in renewable energy firms and luxury boutique hotels in Franc

crossing his face. "You've always excelled

nse of purpose. He had a lead, a thread to unravel.

Stage for

em both. Enzo's young empire had grown great but stood on feet of clay-fear and hate. Dominic, on the o

ve the past that easily. As Enzo closed in on Domin

roving that he was the true power within the syndicate. It was something to be done: to remind