Funeral of a King
Rain poured from the dark sky, soaking the black marble cemetery in silence.
Rows of powerful men stood beneath umbrellas, dressed in expensive suits and long coats. Their faces were serious, respectful.
But not all of them were truly mourning.
Some were watching.
Waiting.
Because whenever a king dies in the mafia world, a war usually follows.
At the center of the crowd stood a young woman dressed completely in black.
Valentina Moretti.
Daughter of the late Don Alessandro Moretti, the most powerful mafia boss in the city.
Her long dark hair rested over her shoulders, moving slightly in the cold wind. Her face showed no tears.
No weakness.
Only silence.
In front of her, the coffin slowly lowered into the ground.
The priest spoke softly.
"Today we say goodbye to a powerful man, a respected leader, and a loving father. May his soul rest in peace."
Some of the men bowed their heads.
Others watched Valentina carefully.
Because everyone in the underworld knew one truth.
Without Don Moretti...
The empire was vulnerable.
And many were already planning how to take it.
Standing just behind Valentina were seven men.
Tall. Silent. Dangerous.
They were known across the criminal world as The Vipers.
Each of them had served the Moretti family for years.
Each of them was capable of killing without hesitation.
At the front of them stood Luca Romano.
His dark eyes scanned the crowd carefully, watching every movement.
Every face.
Every possible threat.
His gaze eventually returned to Valentina.
She hadn't moved once since the funeral began.
Not a tear.
Not a word.
That worried him.
Because Luca had seen many strong people break under grief.
But Valentina wasn't breaking.
She was changing.
When the coffin finally disappeared into the ground, the crowd slowly began to move.
Some approached Valentina to offer condolences.
Others whispered among themselves.
Valentina watched them all.
The Barrett family stood near the back, speaking quietly.
The DeLuca brothers looked almost amused.
Several other crime bosses were already discussing business.
Like vultures circling a corpse.
A voice spoke quietly beside her.
"You should cry."
Valentina turned her head slightly.
Luca stood beside her now.
His presence felt large, solid, protective.
"Why?" she asked calmly.
"People expect it," he replied.
Valentina looked back at the grave.
"My tears won't bring him back."
Luca studied her carefully.
"You loved him."
"Yes," she said.
"But love doesn't make me blind."
The wind blew harder across the cemetery.
Valentina stepped closer to the grave.
"My father ruled this city for thirty years," she said quietly.
"Men feared him."
She looked up at the crowd of mafia leaders slowly leaving the cemetery.
"And now they think the empire is weak."
Luca didn't respond.
Because she wasn't wrong.
Valentina turned toward him.
"Tell me something honestly."
"What?"
"Do you think I can rule this empire?"
Luca stared at her for a long moment.
Then he answered honestly.
"No."
For a second the world felt very quiet.
But Valentina didn't get angry.
Instead she smiled slightly.
A cold, dangerous smile.
"Good," she said.
Luca frowned.
"Good?"
"Yes."
She looked back toward the crowd of powerful men.
"They will think the same thing."
Her eyes hardened.
"And that will be their biggest mistake."
The wind lifted her hair as she spoke the next words.
"Because they didn't just bury a king today."
She turned and began walking toward the waiting cars.
The seven Vipers followed immediately.
Luca walked beside her.
Valentina's voice was calm.
But filled with venom.
"They created a queen."
And the entire underworld would soon learn something terrifying.
Queens don't ask for power.
They take it.