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2024-12-24 22:36:19The invitation to the Russo meeting came early in the morning, delivered not with a phone call or a casual message but through a hand-delivered note from one of Allegra’s men. It was curt and direct: Tonight. 8 PM. Rossi’s Private Room.
Gabriel knew what this meant. The private room at Rossi’s, one of the Russos' upscale restaurants, was where major decisions were made, decisions that could change the fate of empires or end lives. Allegra wasn’t summoning him for idle conversation. This would either be a chance for him to prove his worth or the moment she sealed his fate. He spent the day in a haze of preparation and dread. His usual confidence felt like a thin veneer, cracking under the weight of what was to come. He pored over every recent interaction, every move he’d made, looking for cracks in his façade. Kane’s warnings echoed in his mind, but so did Allegra’s cold threats. By the time he arrived at Rossi’s, the city was cloaked in darkness. The restaurant was lively with patrons, its ambient lighting and elegant décor offering a stark contrast to the storm brewing in Gabriel’s chest. He was ushered through the main dining area to a back hallway, where a heavy wooden door guarded the private room. Inside, Allegra sat at the head of a long, polished table, flanked by key members of the Russo hierarchy. The air was thick with tension, each figure radiating power and suspicion. Gabriel’s instincts screamed at him to tread carefully. “Gabriel,” Allegra said as he entered, her voice as smooth as ever. “We were just talking about you.” Gabriel forced a calm smile. “All good things, I hope.” Allegra didn’t respond. She gestured to an empty seat halfway down the table, and Gabriel took it. The silence that followed was suffocating. Finally, Allegra broke it. “Do you know why you’re here tonight?” Gabriel shook his head. “I can only assume it’s important.” “It is,” she said, her tone sharpening. She slid a folder across the table toward him. “Open it.” Gabriel obeyed, his stomach twisting as he saw the contents. Inside were documents implicating him in leaking information to Kane—bank transactions, meeting records, even surveillance photos. His pulse quickened as he realized someone had been watching him far more closely than he’d anticipated. “What is this?” he asked, keeping his voice steady. “That’s what I’d like to know,” Allegra said, her gaze boring into him. “Because to me, it looks like evidence of betrayal.” Gabriel closed the folder, his mind racing. Denying it outright would make him look defensive, but admitting anything was suicide. He needed to strike the perfect balance. “This is fabricated,” he said, pushing the folder back across the table. “Kane’s desperate. He knows he can’t bring you down without sowing division. This is exactly what he wants, us turning on each other.” Allegra leaned back in her chair, her fingers steepled. “That’s a convenient explanation. But how do we know it’s true?” Gabriel met her gaze, summoning every ounce of conviction he had. “Because if I wanted to betray you, I wouldn’t be sitting here. I’d be hiding under federal protection, feeding them everything they want to know. But instead, I’m here, defending myself to the people I’ve been loyal to for years.” The room fell silent. Allegra’s expression was unreadable as she studied him, weighing his words. Finally, she nodded. “You make a good point, Gabriel. But loyalty isn’t just about words. It’s about action.” She gestured to another man at the table, who slid a second folder toward Gabriel. This one contained a list of names and addresses, witnesses set to testify against the Russos. “Take care of this,” Allegra said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Show me where your loyalty lies.” Gabriel’s chest tightened. Allegra wasn’t just testing him, she was forcing his hand. To follow her orders meant committing crimes he’d spent years rationalizing away. To refuse meant certain death. “Consider it done,” he said, his voice calm despite the storm raging inside him. That night, Gabriel sat alone in his apartment, staring at the list of names. Each one represented a life, a family, a future. He knew the Russos wouldn’t hesitate to kill these people, and if he handed over their locations, he’d be complicit. His phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was Kane. “What do you want?” Gabriel asked, his voice sharper than he intended. “Not the question you should be asking,” Kane replied. “The real question is, what do you want? Because from where I’m standing, you’ve got two options: help Allegra and bury yourself deeper, or work with me and get out while you still can.” Gabriel clenched his jaw. “You think it’s that simple?” “I think it’s as simple as survival,” Kane said. “You don’t owe Allegra anything, Gabriel. The moment you stop being useful, she’ll throw you to the wolves. You know that as well as I do.” Gabriel leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his face. “You have no idea what you’re asking me to do.” “Don’t I?” Kane shot back. “I’m asking you to live. To stop playing both sides and make a choice. You don’t have much time, Slate. Allegra’s not going to wait forever, and neither am I.” The line went dead, leaving Gabriel alone with his thoughts. The next day, Gabriel met Allegra to report his progress. He handed over a fabricated document, carefully crafted to make it look like the witnesses had been silenced. Allegra flipped through the pages, her expression neutral. “Good work,” she said finally. “Maybe you’re not as expendable as I thought.” Gabriel nodded, but his relief was short-lived. He knew Allegra’s trust was tenuous at best, and it wouldn’t take much for her to turn on him again. He was walking a razor’s edge, and every step brought him closer to the breaking point. As he left the meeting, Gabriel realized he was out of moves. The Russos, Kane, the law, they were all closing in. The web of lies he’d woven was tightening around him, and he could feel it starting to unravel. The breaking point wasn’t just coming. It was here.
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