Chapter 2 - The Morning Meeting
The morning sun felt blinding as Adrian walked into the grand dining room.
He forced his hands to shake slightly, playing the role of the broken man his brother expected to see.
Dominic was already sitting at the head of the long table, sipping black coffee and reading a financial report.
Dominic wore a perfectly tailored suit, looking every bit like the new king of the city.
"Good morning, Adrian," Dominic smiled, his eyes dripping with fake sympathy.
"You look absolutely exhausted today."
Adrian pulled out a chair and sat down slowly, letting out a ragged sigh.
"The insomnia is getting worse," Adrian lied flawlessly.
Dominic reached across the table and placed a thick stack of legal documents in front of him.
"This is the transfer of the Southside port authority," Dominic explained smoothly.
"You just need to sign on the bottom line, and I will handle all the stress for you."
Adrian stared at the papers that would surrender the last major piece of his empire.
Before he could pick up the pen, his cell phone vibrated in his pocket.
It was a text message from Luca.
Adrian opened the message and read the toxicologist's report.
The tea was laced with a synthetic, military-grade neurotoxin designed to slowly destroy brain tissue over several years.
But it was the second line of the text message that made Adrian's blood run completely cold.
The specific chemical signature of the toxin belonged exclusively to the Navarro Cartel.
The Navarro Cartel was the exact organization Dominic had supposedly wiped out five years ago to prove his loyalty to the family.
Adrian slowly put his phone away and looked directly into his brother's eyes.
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"I think I need a few more days to review these contracts, Dominic," Adrian whispered.
Dominic's confident smile instantly vanished, replaced by a flash of genuine, murderous anger.
