Chapter 2 - THE BLACK VIPER
The silence in the grand hall was absolute. Twelve mafia dons, their wives, and three dozen heavily armed guards stood frozen as Alessandro Moretti stared at the tiny blue rabbit in his hands.
My breath caught in my throat. I reached for Emma, pulling her small, warm body against my legs. “Emma, where did you find that?” I whispered, my voice trembling.
“Under the big bed,” Emma said, her innocent voice carrying across the marble floors. “In the mean lady’s room. It was hiding in a shiny black box.”
Vivian Romano let out a sharp, choked gasp. The blood completely drained from her face, leaving her stark white against her crimson gown.
Alessandro’s thumb traced the black symbol stitched beneath the rabbit’s ear—a coiled serpent with a crown. The insignia of the Vipera Nera. The Black Vipers. It was the rogue syndicate that had assassinated Alessandro’s father five years ago, a faction everyone believed had been exterminated.
“A shiny black box,” Alessandro repeated. His voice was no louder than a whisper, yet it commanded the room like a thunderclap. He slowly turned his head to look at Vivian. “You told me you lost the security keycard to the East Wing, Vivian. Yet, it seems you’ve been keeping souvenirs in your private safe.”
“Alessandro, I swear on my life, I have no idea what that is!” Vivian shrieked, taking a step back. She bumped into Don Ricci’s table, sending a crystal glass shattering to the floor. “The maid planted it! She hates me! She’s trying to frame me!”
Alessandro didn't even blink. He raised two fingers.
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In total synchronization, twelve of Moretti’s elite guards unholstered their weapons, the metallic clacks echoing off the vaulted ceiling. They didn't aim at Vivian. They aimed at the four Romano family guards standing by the doorway.
“Lock down the villa,” Alessandro ordered his underboss, Matteo, who was already speaking rapidly into a wrist microphone. “No one leaves. And take Miss Romano to the lower levels. We are going to have a long conversation about her jewelry boxes.”
