CHAPTER 26 POWER VACUUM #3
Tommy shot him a tight smile. "I’ve looked worse." He pulled out a chair and sat down, wincing slightly but keeping his posture straight. "I’m not dead, and I’m not useless. So let’s get to it."
Dario Vitale, standing in the corner with Evelyn Crane at his side, watched Tommy with a measured gaze. "You’re sure?" he asked, his tone calm but probing. "This isn’t a time for heroics."
Tommy met Dario’s eyes without flinching. "I’m sure. I’m not here to be a hero. I’m here to do my job."
Vincent leaned back in his chair, studying Tommy for a long moment. Then he nodded. "Alright. You’re in. But you follow orders. No improvising."
"Understood," Tommy said, his jaw tightening slightly.
Evelyn stepped forward, her presence commanding attention without her needing to speak. She glanced at Tommy, then at the map on the table. "We need to move fast," she said, her voice low but urgent. "Every hour we waste gives them more time to prepare."
Vincent nodded, his gaze returning to the map. "We’ve got intel on their positions here and here," he said, pointing to two marked locations. "But we’re blind beyond that. We need eyes on the ground."
Tommy leaned forward, his good hand resting on the edge of the table. "I can handle that. I know the area. I’ll get us what we need."
Dominic shook his head. "You’re not going anywhere alone. Not in your condition."
"I’ll go with him," Evelyn said, cutting in before Tommy could argue. Her tone left no room for debate. "He knows the terrain, and I can handle anything that comes up."
Vincent exchanged a glance with Dario, who gave a slight nod. "Fine," Vincent said. "But you both report back immediately. No detours."
Tommy nodded, his expression hard. "Understood."
Dario stepped forward, his gaze settling on Tommy. "You’ve got one job: get the intel and get out. Don’t try to be a hero. We’ve got enough moving parts here without you adding to the mess."
Tommy’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. "I’ll get it done."
Evelyn placed a hand on Tommy’s shoulder, her touch firm but brief. "Let’s move," she said, already turning toward the door.
Tommy pushed himself to his feet, his movements stiff but deliberate. He followed Evelyn out of the room, leaving the others to their planning. As the door closed behind them, Vincent leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful.
"He’s not ready," Dominic said, his voice low.
"He doesn’t have to be ready," Dario replied, his tone calm but edged with steel. "He just has to be useful. And Tommy Caruso knows how to be useful."
Vincent nodded, his gaze returning to the map. "Let’s hope he remembers that."
Outside, the night air was cool against Tommy’s skin as he followed Evelyn down the narrow alley. His body ached with every step, but he forced himself to keep pace. He wasn’t going to slow her down. Not now, not when it mattered.
Evelyn glanced back at him, her eyes sharp in the dim light. "Keep up," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "And don’t do anything stupid."
Tommy nodded, his jaw clenched. "I’m not here to fuck this up."
Evelyn studied him for a moment, then turned back to the path ahead. "Good. Because we don’t have time for mistakes."
Tommy followed her into the shadows, his focus narrowing to the task at hand. He wasn’t fully recovered—he knew that. But he was here, and that was enough. For now, that would have to be enough.
The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on.
Vincent Moretti stood at the head of the table, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge, his gaze sweeping over the faces of his brothers.
Dominic leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
Anthony paced near the window, his movements sharp and restless.
Dario Vitale sat at the table, calm as ever, his fingers steepled in front of him.
Evelyn Crane lingered near the door, her presence a quiet but undeniable force.
Tommy Caruso hovered just behind Dario, his posture tense, his eyes darting between the Moretti brothers.
"This isn’t a fucking negotiation," Vincent said, his voice low and dangerous. "You don’t get to question me. Not now. Not ever."
Dominic pushed off the wall, his tone cutting. "You’re not the only one who gets to make decisions, Vincent. This family doesn’t revolve around you."
"Doesn’t it?" Vincent shot back, his eyes blazing. "Who’s kept this family alive? Who’s bled for it? You want to step up, Dominic? Prove you’re more than a shadow."
Anthony stopped pacing, his voice rising. "And what about me? You act like I’m just here to follow orders. I’ve got ideas, Vincent. I’ve got plans. Maybe if you listened for once—"
"Your plans?" Vincent interrupted, his laugh bitter. "Your plans nearly got us killed last month. You’re reckless, Anthony. Always have been."
Anthony’s face flushed with anger. "And you’re a fucking dictator. You don’t own this family."
The room erupted into chaos. Dominic stepped forward, his voice cold. "You’ve been making decisions without us for too long, Vincent. It’s time we had a say."
Vincent slammed his hand on the table. "This isn’t a democracy. I’m the head of this family, and I’ll do what’s necessary to keep us alive."
"Even if it tears us apart?" Dominic countered.
Dario finally spoke, his tone calm but firm. "This isn’t helping. We’re stronger together. Fighting among ourselves only weakens us."
Vincent turned on Dario, his voice sharp. "Stay out of this, Vitale. This is family business."
Dario’s gaze didn’t waver. "I’ve been cleaning up your messes for years, Vincent. This is my business too."
Evelyn stepped forward, her voice cutting through the noise. "Enough. You’re all acting like children. This isn’t about who’s in charge. It’s about survival."
Vincent glared at her. "You don’t get a vote, Crane. This doesn’t concern you."
"It does when your infighting puts us all at risk," Evelyn shot back. "You’re so busy fighting each other, you’re blind to the real threats."
Tommy shifted uncomfortably, his voice low but clear. "She’s right. We need to focus on the enemy, not each other."
Vincent’s eyes narrowed. "You’re forgetting your place, Caruso."
Tommy straightened, his jaw set. "My place is protecting this family. Even from itself."
The room fell silent, the weight of Tommy’s words hanging in the air. Dominic broke the silence, his voice quieter now. "He’s not wrong, Vincent. We’re tearing ourselves apart."
Vincent’s grip on the table tightened, his knuckles whitening further. "If you want to challenge me, Dominic, do it. But don’t pretend this is about the family."
Dominic met his brother’s gaze, his expression unflinching. "This isn’t a challenge. It’s a warning. You’re losing us, Vincent."
Vincent’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Anthony stepped forward, his voice softer now. "We’re brothers. We’re supposed to be in this together."
Vincent’s eyes flicked to Anthony, then back to Dominic. "Then act like it."
The tension in the room didn’t ease, but the shouting stopped.
Evelyn glanced at Dario, her expression unreadable.
Dario gave her the faintest nod, his gaze returning to Vincent.
Tommy shifted his weight, his hand brushing the handle of the gun at his side.
The Moretti family stood on the edge of a knife, the fragile balance of power teetering dangerously.
The civil war had begun, and no one was sure who would walk away intact.