Chapter 101

Alessandro

The ballroom was all gold and shadows, the kind of opulent display Mafia men favored when they wanted to remind the world exactly how far their influence reached. This time, Smoke had planned this to gather together everyone on the new deal, according to him. It was hardly a meet-and-greet event or even a social gathering; hardly were these men interested in meeting associates or fellow business partners. Events like this were just a fair excuse to show off wealth and class.

Crystal chandeliers cast fractured light across polished marble floors, while the air hung heavy with expensive cigars and aged whiskey. Men and women in glamorous apparel moved through the space like chess pieces, their laughter pitched low and calculated, every conversation a negotiation wrapped in silk.

I had attended enough of these gatherings to understand their true nature. Events like this brought men together for more deals—typical business occasions disguised as socia