Matt sat at the head of the long mahogany table in the Bianchi estate, his fingers tapping against the wood. The room was silent except for the occasional flicker of the fireplace. Dominic sat across from him, swirling a glass of scotch, his dark eyes locked on Matt.
"You must think you're a real tough guy," Dominic said finally. "Killing a fed. Do you have any idea what you've done?"
Matt met his uncle's gaze, unwavering. "I handled a problem."
Dominic chuckled, shaking his head. "You handled a problem? No, kid. You just started a war."
Miriam leaned against the wall, arms crossed. She had been quiet since they arrived, watching Dominic the way a wolf watches another predator.
Matt exhaled. "The feds were breathing down our necks because of Vince. Now, they've got nothing."
Dominic slammed his glass down. "You think the FBI just lets something like this go? They'll be all over us. Every racket we run, every man we put on the street. Russo might be dead, but his people will come looking for revenge."
Matt didn't flinch. "Let them. We clean house, we move smart, and we make sure there's no one left to talk."
Dominic studied him for a long moment, then leaned back with a smirk. "You're starting to sound like a boss."
Matt knew what his uncle was doing—testing him, pushing him. Dominic had always underestimated him. But now, Matt had his full attention.
And that was dangerous.
Dominic took another sip of his drink. "So tell me, what's your next move?"
Matt didn't hesitate. "We go after anyone Russo was working with. Anyone who knows too much."
Dominic grinned. "Cold-blooded. I like it." But then his smile faded, and his voice dropped lower. "But let me make something clear, nephew. You're not running this family."
The tension in the room thickened.
Matt leaned forward. "Not yet."
Dominic's eyes darkened, but he said nothing. Instead, he downed the rest of his drink and stood. "Then I hope you survive long enough to prove yourself."
With that, he walked out, leaving Matt and Miriam alone.
Miriam exhaled. "Well, that went well."
Matt rubbed his jaw. "He's waiting for me to fail."
She nodded. "Yeah. And if you don't?"
Matt's expression hardened. "Then I take everything."