The Devil Who Claimed Me

The downfall of the Bellini empire continued. And this time, it spread faster than anyone could contain.

Within days, Bellini men began defecting.

Some disappeared without a word. Others quietly crossed over to rival organizations, taking valuable information, contacts, and territory with them.

The men who had once sworn loyalty to the Bellini family were suddenly unwilling to die for a sinking ship.

Warehouses were seized one after another. Some were taken over by rival groups. Others were abandoned after Bellini’s men refused to defend them.

Their criminal allies were disappearing too.

Organizations that had worked with the Bellinis for years suddenly refused to help them. Some even switched sides, sensing that the once-powerful family was no longer capable of protecting its allies.

One district after another slipped from their control. The empire that had once dominated the city’s underworld was being dismantled piece by piece.

While Matteo struggled desperately to hold on to what remained, Dominic was quietly building his own empire within the ruins.

He had prepared for this long before the Bellinis realized they were under attack.

For weeks, shares of Bellini-controlled companies had been quietly purchased through a complicated network of investment firms and private holding companies.

None of them were registered under Dominic’s name. Some were controlled by companies that existed only on paper. Others belonged to businessmen who owed the Nexon Group favors.

Every purchase was small enough to avoid suspicion. But together, they amounted to a significant portion of the Bellini family’s holdings.

Dominic wasn’t simply destroying the Bellini empire. He was buying it, piece by piece. And he had already begun working on the board.

He approached each director separately, showing them the same way out.

The company’s stock had plunged. Cash reserves were drying up. Suppliers were demanding payment, investors were fleeing, and the board was terrified that the entire corporation would collapse before they could find a solution.

Eventually, the directors agreed to meet him secretly.

They gathered at a private estate owned by Dominic, far from the Bellini headquarters.

The room was filled with exhausted faces.

"The situation is dire," the senior director said grimly. "The company needs someone who can stabilize it."

"I agree," another director said. "Matteo is no longer capable of resolving these issues. We need to seriously consider what Roman has suggested."

One of the directors frowned. "And you believe he can actually save this sinking company?"

Before anyone could answer, the door opened. Dominic walked into the room.

Everyone fell silent.

He calmly took his seat at the head of the table and looked around at the men who were once supposed to protect the Bellini family.

"I know the Bellini operations from the inside," he said. "I know the suppliers. I know the logistics network. I know the people who are still loyal to the company."

He placed several documents on the table. "And more importantly, I have access to capital."

The directors exchanged glances.

Dominic continued calmly, "I can inject enough liquidity to keep the legitimate businesses operating. I can negotiate with creditors, rebuild the supply chain, and restore investor confidence."

One director leaned forward. "You expect us to trust you with that much power?"

"No." Dominic’s answer surprised them. "I expect you to trust the results."

He pushed another file across the table.

Inside were financial projections, restructuring plans, acquisition documents, and proposed investments.

Everything looked legitimate, carefully calculated.

The directors studied the documents in silence.

Then Dominic leaned back. "I have already acquired enough shares to give me significant control over the company."

The directors exchanged uneasy looks.

"As the company’s value continues to fall," Dominic continued, "I will acquire even more." He paused. "You have two choices."

His gaze swept across the room. "Let the company collapse, or accept my help."

Silence followed. Some directors looked hesitant. Others had already made up their minds.

"He is the only one who has presented a workable solution."

"We need fresh capital. The supply chain has to be restored. We cannot afford another leadership crisis."

"Matteo has already lost control. We can’t trust him anymore."

Dominic listened without saying a word. He didn’t need to convince them anymore.

They were convincing one another.

Finally, the senior-most director spoke. "We agree to support you. We’ll remove Matteo soon."

One by one, the others nodded.

A faint smirk touched Dominic’s lips. He had won.

Before Matteo even realized what was happening, Dominic had secured enough support to make his position almost impossible to challenge. The Bellini empire was no longer slipping from Matteo’s hands.

It was already being handed to Dominic.

~~~~~~~~~~

Matteo was sitting in his office when his assistant rushed inside.

"Sir."

Matteo looked up impatiently. "Tell me something good."

"I found him. The traitor." The assistant walked toward the desk. "It’s Roman."

Matteo froze. "What did you say? Roman."

For several seconds, Matteo simply stared at him. A strange chill ran through his body. "That’s impossible."

"He has been planning everything for months. He has already turned the directors against you. The board is preparing to overthrow you and put him in control."

Matteo slowly rose from his chair. "Why?" His voice was filled with disbelief. "Why would he do this? He has pretended to be loyal to my father for years. He stood beside our family. He worked for us."

His expression hardened. "What enmity could he possibly have with us?"

The assistant swallowed. "He was never Roman." He opened a folder. "He is Dominic Russo."

Matteo’s face changed instantly. "Dominic Russo?"

"Yes. He is the successor of Don Alesandro."

Matteo’s eyes widened. "No." He shook his head. "This can’t be."

As far as he knew, Dominic Russo was dead. Everyone believed he was dead.

"How could he be alive?"

The assistant placed several documents on the desk. "He wasn’t killed. Your father kept him captive and spread the rumor of his death."

Matteo stumbled backward and grabbed the edge of his desk. For the first time, confusion overshadowed his anger.

"Why?"

The assistant placed several photographs on the desk. They showed a hidden underground chamber.

A man chained inside it was Dominic.

Matteo stared at the photographs in shock.

The assistant continued, "Your father captured Dominic after destroying his organization. He manipulated him into believing that Mathius was responsible for everything that had happened to him and his gang."

Matteo picked up the photographs one by one, his fingers trembling.

"He used Dominic against Mathius," the assistant continued. "Luke wanted to destroy Mathius’s empire and eventually seize his position."

Matteo looked up. "Then why did Dominic turn against us? All those years, he worked for us. Why the sudden change?"

"A man like Dominic was never truly loyal to anyone," the assistant said quietly. "He was loyal to whoever could help him achieve his goals."

The assistant’s expression hardened. "As long as Luke Bellini was powerful and useful, Dominic remained on his side. But when Luke became sick and weak, everything changed."

He pointed toward the photographs. "Dominic realized that Luke could no longer protect him or help him achieve his goals. So he switched sides. He joined hands with Mathius."

He placed another photograph on the desk.

Matteo looked down. His breathing grew heavier.

The photograph showed Dominic standing beside Mathius, shaking his hand.

Matteo’s hands slowly curled into fists. "That bastard..."

He remembered Dominic rushing into his office, reporting problems, and warning him about threats.

But now Matteo understood.

Dominic hadn’t been trying to save them. He had been destroying them from within.

The assistant pointed toward another stack of documents. "He has quietly acquired Bellini shares through intermediaries. With Mathius behind him, Dominic is almost untouchable."

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