Chapter 5 - The Council of the Docks
The annual maritime summit was held at the historic Seafarers Exchange in downtown Boston, a grand granite fortress overlooking the harbor.
Over fifty regional bosses, port commissioners, and union delegates gathered in the wood-paneled ballroom, surrounded by armed private guards.
At the center of the hall stood Julian Vale—Adrian's uncle, and Mason's father.
Julian was sixty years old, with silver hair, cold predatory eyes, and a cruel sneer that matched his son’s.
"Adrian threw his own cousin out like garbage!" Julian shouted to the council, slamming his fist against the mahogany podium.
"He’s letting sentimentality ruin our business! He exiled Mason over an altercation with some common household girl!"
The heavy oak doors at the back of the hall swung wide open.
The entire room fell into an immediate, breathless silence as two dozen of Adrian's veteran enforcers filed in, creating a secure corridor.
Adrian walked through the center of the room, looking like an emperor carved from dark granite in his bespoke black three-piece suit.
On his arm, wearing an elegant midnight-blue silk gown with her head held high and diamonds flashing at her throat, was me.
Whispers rippled through the gathered crime lords like wind through dry leaves.
"Is that the girl?" a union boss muttered.
"She looks like royalty," another whispered behind his hand.
Adrian led me directly to the center of the council table, stopping five feet from his uncle Julian.
Julian’s face flushed an ugly crimson as his eyes locked onto me, then back to Adrian with venomous fury.
"You bring this gutter rat to the council table, Adrian?!" Julian hissed, stepping forward aggressively.
"She was scrubbing floors in your house three days ago! You disgraced our family name for a piece of cheap harbor trash!"
Adrian didn't raise his voice. He didn't draw a weapon.
He simply stepped closer to Julian, his dark eyes locking onto his uncle with an intensity that made the older man’s breath hitch in his throat.
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"You have five seconds to apologize to her, Julian," Adrian said, his tone chillingly smooth.
"Or you won't leave this room on your own two feet."
