The dining hall in Valencia was filled with the smell of expensive wine and roasted lamb.
The walls were lined with dark wood and ancient tapestries, muffling the low, gravelly voices of the men who decided the fate of empires over dinner.
The top mafia heads sat around a massive circular table.
Matteo sat perfectly still. In the world of high-stakes syndicates, power was measured by presence.
For years, he didn't represent the Ramirez family and had stayed under The Don's for years.
But a year ago, Matteo changed the rules. He stopped hiding. He started showing up, not as a guest, but as a silent reminder of who truly controlled the ports.
At first, the room was quiet, but as the wine flowed, the voices got deeper and the topics got heavier.
The head of the French syndicate, a man with gray hair and a thick accent, leaned forward. He was talking about the new rules of the underworld.
