Chapter 7 - The Purge of the Rossi Family
The death of Donato Rossi created an immediate power vacuum, but Allessandro moved with terrifying speed to ensure no further bloodshed touched his people.
Over the next forty-eight hours, the remaining loyalists of the Rossi family were stripped of their weapons and territory. Isabella Rossi was handed over to the Commission's justice system—stripped of her wealth, her family title, and banished permanently from the state under threat of immediate execution if she ever returned.
The war that threatened to burn Federal Hill to the ground was over before it truly began.
The Romano family emerged from the conflict stronger, richer, and undisputed in their authority over the region. But inside the grand Romano estate, things had changed fundamentally.
The shattered glass had been replaced. The bloodstains on the marble floor were scrubbed clean. The heavy smell of gunsmoke was replaced once again by the scent of rich espresso, fresh pastries, and warm autumn flowers.
In the grand dining hall, the long mahogany table was set for breakfast.
Allessandro sat at the head of the table. He wore a casual white linen shirt, sleeves rolled up, reading the morning paper.
Footsteps echoed softly from the hallway. Not the sharp, cold click-click-click of high heels.
Instead, it was the light, soft pitter-patter of small sneakers.
Emma walked into the dining room, holding her cloth doll Rosie. She looked healthy, her cheeks rosy, wearing a pretty blue dress that Maria had bought her with her new allowance. Behind her came Maria, carrying a silver tray with fresh tea and fruit.
"Good morning, Mr. Romano," Emma said cheerfully.
Allessandro set down his newspaper. A genuine, warm smile appeared across his sharp face—a smile his men had never seen in twenty years.
"Good morning, Emma," Allessandro said softly. "Good morning, Maria."
"Good morning, sir," Maria smiled, setting the tray down. She was no longer wearing the gray maid uniform. She wore elegant, comfortable clothes, her face free of the exhausted, fearful look she had carried for years.
"Sit down," Allessandro gestured to the chairs beside him.
May you like
"Oh, sir, we couldn't..." Maria began hesitantly.
"Sit," Allessandro insisted gently. "In this house, you don't serve the table anymore. You sit at it."
