Chapter 6 - THE CAPO’S TREASON
The temperature in the room plummeted to sub-zero.
Raphael did not remove his hand from Josephine's cheek immediately. He held it there for one long, deliberate second, demonstrating absolute control, before slowly turning to face his lieutenant.
"Marco," Raphael said smoothly, though the air crackled like a live wire. "You entered my private quarters without knocking. And you insulted someone under my roof."
Marco scoffed, stepping into the room. He was a veteran soldier, heavily scarred, who believed blood and iron were the only laws that mattered. "She's a servant, Raphael! We run an empire stretching from Hartford to Portland. Valenti burned our storage depot on the docks two hours ago. We lost four million dollars in cargo because you decided to play Prince Charming for a girl who launders our sheets!"
Josephine shrank back, but Raphael stepped smoothly in front of her, shielding her entirely from Marco's glare.
"The four million dollars will be recouped from Valenti’s private accounts by Friday," Raphael said coldly. "And you will address her as Miss Hartley."
Marco’s face turned scarlet. "The capos won't accept this. The Commission meets tonight at the Biltmore. If you show up with her on your arm, they’ll see weakness. They’ll see a Don who has lost his mind."
"Then let them look," Raphael whispered, his eyes narrowing into black daggers. "Tell the council I will be there at eight. And Marco... if you ever enter this room unannounced again, you won't leave it on two legs."
Marco glared at Josephine one last time, spat on the threshold, and stormed out, his heavy boots echoing down the marble hallway.
Josephine grabbed Raphael's sleeve. "He's right, Raphael. I’m putting your entire family in danger. Let me take Leo and leave. We can disappear to the Midwest—"
"You wouldn't make it past the Providence state line alive," Raphael interrupted, turning back to her and gripping both of her hands in his. "Valenti has scouts on every highway. You leave my side, and you die. Do you understand me?"
"Then what are you going to do?"
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"Tonight, I introduce you to the underworld," Raphael said with a dark, confident smirk. "Not as my maid. But as the future Donna of the Orsini family."
***
