The Vitale villa stood like a fortress over Palermo, its marble halls echoing not with laughter but with the voices of power. Tonight, it wasn’t a celebration. It was a council.

Every don, capo, and trusted ally had been summoned. From Catania to Naples, from Florence to Calabria, the most dangerous men in Italy sat beneath the chandeliers of the grand hall. Some bowed their heads with respect. Others raised their eyes with defiance, testing the steel of their new king.

At the head of the table sat Enzo. His black suit was crisp, his jaw shadowed with stubble, his eyes sharp enough to cut glass. Beside him, Elena. Dressed...