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The Meeting

last update Last Updated: 2024-12-27 08:40:29

The meeting was set in an opulent villa deep in the Italian countryside, a neutral territory chosen to ensure no single family had the upper hand. The grandeur of the estate, with its frescoed ceilings and marble columns, was a stark contrast to the tension that hummed in the air. This was no mere gathering—it was a summit of power brokers in the mafia world, led by the formidable Valentin Marconi.

Klarisse adjusted the cuff of her cream-colored blazer, her expression composed but her mind racing. She and Alexander stood side by side at the entrance of the villa, their parents, Bronson Robinson and Alan Fowls, walking a few paces ahead. Alexander, dressed in a tailored black suit, glanced at her, sensing her unease.

“You ready for this?” he asked in a low voice.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Klarisse replied, her voice steady despite the nerves coiling in her stomach. She added, with a faint smirk, “Try not to embarrass us.”

Alexander chuckled dryly. “Funny, I was going to tell you the
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