Chapter 9 - The Coronation in Shadows
9 - 15
Three days passed in a blur of swift, surgical restructuring across the Varric empire. With Viktor dead and the traitorous faction within the inner circle thoroughly purged, Matteo moved with the ruthless efficiency of a general securing his borders after a decisive siege.
Inside the mansion, the staff had received new instructions. The red maid uniform Liana had worn on her first day had vanished, replaced by bespoke silk dresses delivered in sleek black garment bags from Milan’s finest ateliers. But Liana barely touched them. She spent most of her time in the newly fortified nursery on the second floor, refusing to let Nico out of her sight for more than a few minutes at a time.
Matteo joined them every evening as the sun dipped below the horizon, bringing order reports, security updates, and simple, quiet presence that slowly transformed the intimidating mafia boss into a grounding anchor for her fractured soul.
On the fourth night, as a heavy rainstorm lashed against the bulletproof windows of the nursery, a soft knock sounded at the door.
Marco entered, holding a secure leather portfolio under his arm. He looked at Liana with a new, profound level of respect—a respect earned not by subservience, but by surviving the fire that had consumed the estate’s darkest secrets.
"Boss," Marco said, nodding respectfully to both of them. "The federal task force has officially closed its active surveillance on our western shipping lane. Without Viktor’s inside cooperation, their RICO indictment has collapsed due to lack of admissible predicate acts."
Matteo nodded slowly, rocking gently in the velvet armchair while Nico slept soundly against his broad shoulder. "And the internal leaks?"
"Plugged," Marco replied. "Every captain has renewed their loyalty oath in writing. Nobody is stepping out of line—especially not after what happened to Viktor."
Marco shifted his weight slightly, glancing down at the leather portfolio in his hands. "There is one more thing, Boss. A visitor at the outer gates. Someone claiming to represent the philanthropic board of St. Jude’s Hospital, asking for an urgent audience regarding... administrative discrepancies in the maternity ward records from last month."
The temperature in the nursery seemed to drop instantly. Matteo’s black eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.
"Did they say who sent them?" Matteo asked, his voice dropping into an icy register.
"Dr. Alistair Vance," Marco said quietly. "The chief administrator of St. Jude’s. The man who personally signed off on Viktor’s falsified birth registry and the burial permit for the decoy infant."
Liana gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as a cold wave of dread washed over her. "Alistair Vance? He’s one of the most powerful hospital directors in the state. If he’s here asking about the records, he knows the cover story is unraveling."
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Matteo handed the sleeping baby gently back to Liana, his movements smooth and practiced. He stood up from the armchair, adjusting his dark suit jacket with a chillingly calm deliberation.
"Let him in, Marco," Matteo instructed, a lethal smile touching the corners of his mouth. "Bring him directly to the grand ballroom. It’s time we discussed hospital administration with the good doctor."
