Chapter 6 - The Emerald EntranceThe Grand Regency Ballroom was the epicenter of power, money, and corruption in the city. Crystal chandeliers hung from five-story ceilings, illuminating over five hundred guests—senators, judges, rival mafia dons, and billionaire investors.
Tonight, the air was thick with tension. The sudden collapse of the Vance family had created a power vacuum, and rumors were swirling that rival syndicates—led by the ruthless Matteo Rossi—were planning to challenge Luca Moretti's dominance.
At 9:00 PM, the grand double doors of the ballroom swung open.
The announcer's voice boomed over the loudspeaker: "Announcing Don Luca Moretti, Matriarch Isabella Moretti... and Miss Naomi Carter."
The entire ballroom went dead silent. Hundreds of heads turned at once.
Luca walked in first, looking impossibly handsome and lethal in a custom black tuxedo. Beside him, sitting proudly in a high-tech, gilded wheelchair, was Isabella, wearing a regal silver gown.
But it was the woman walking beside them that made the crowd gasp.
Naomi looked breathtaking. The emerald silk gown hugged her graceful silhouette perfectly, flowing behind her like liquid velvet. The emerald necklace sparkled against her smooth skin, and her dark hair was styled in an elegant, modern updo. She walked with head held high, radiating a quiet, unshakeable dignity that commanded instant respect.
Murmurs erupted across the room.
"Who is she?" "Is that the maid from the news?" "Look at the way Luca is holding her hand..."
Luca didn't pay attention to the whispers. He kept his hand firmly resting on the small of Naomi’s back, guiding her through the crowd like a queen entering her court.
"You're doing fine," Luca murmured close to her ear, his warm breath sending chills down her spine.
"Everyone is staring at us," Naomi whispered back, keeping her polite smile fixed.
"Let them stare," Luca replied coldly. "They are looking at the safest woman in this room."
Suddenly, a loud, arrogant laugh interrupted them.
Matteo Rossi—the head of the rival Rossi crime family—stepped into their path, holding a glass of scotch. He was a greasy, dangerous man in his late forties, flanked by four heavy enforcers.
"Luca!" Matteo sneered loudly, making sure the surrounding guests could hear. "Congratulations on cleaning up your household! Though I must say... I didn't expect a Moretti Don to replace a billionaire’s daughter with a common servant."
The surrounding guests gasped softly. The disrespect was blatant.
Luca’s eyes narrowed into slits of lethal steel. He stepped forward, but before he could speak, Naomi stepped up right beside him.
She looked Matteo dead in the eye, her voice clear and resonant enough to carry across the circle.
"Mr. Rossi," Naomi said smoothly, a calm smile on her lips. "A true leader recognizes value in loyalty and character, not in stolen titles or cheap ambition. But I suppose a man like you wouldn't know much about loyalty, considering three of your top captains defected to the Moretti family last month."
A wave of hushed snickers rippled through the elite crowd.
Matteo’s face turned bright red with rage. "You little bitch—"
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Before Matteo could finish his sentence, Luca’s hand moved like a lightning strike. He grabbed Matteo by the throat, lifting the grown man slightly off his feet, driving him back against a marble pillar.
The entire ballroom fell into terrified, absolute silence.
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