Her Final Verdict

Her Final Verdict


IZZY’S POV

The guards grabbed him by the arms. He struggled, cursing, but they forced him to his knees in front of everyone. His crew half-rose, ready to intervene, but a wave of guns from the other guards kept them frozen.

I looked around the room. “Anyone else want to refuse orders? Speak now.”

The silence was thick, heavy. Nobody moved.

Russo spat on the floor. “You’ll regret this, Izzy. You think they’ll all fall in line, but they won’t. You’re a kid playing dress-up in your daddy’s house.”

I leaned down, close enough so only he and the front row could hear. “No. I’m the boss and you just gave me the perfect chance to prove it.”

Then, loudly for everyone: “Take him out.”

The guards dragged Russo up. He kicked, shouted, fought, but they hauled him toward the back doors. His men looked lost, frozen between trying to help and realizing they’d be cut down if they did.

The hall was dead quiet except for Russo’s curses fading as the doors shut behind him.

I turned back to the room. “That’s what happens when you refuse me. There will be no second chances. This family runs on order. Anyone who can’t respect that doesn’t belong here. Understood?”

There was a pause, then Councilman Vance spoke up, voice low but clear. “Understood.”

Others nodded, murmuring the same.

I let my eyes sweep over them all. “Good, because this was just the beginning. I won’t ask again, I will order and you will follow. Or you’ll end up where Russo is headed.”

Janet, standing off to the side, gave me the faintest nod. Approval.

I finally walked back to my father’s chair and sat down for the first time in front of all of them. The wood was cold, heavy, but it felt right.

No one laughed. No one dared.



A few days later, I called for another meeting. I ordered the guards to bring Russo. The room shifted as two guards dragged Russo back in a few minutes later. His hands were tied now, his face red from shouting. He looked around the hall like he still owned the place.

“You’re making a mistake,” he spat. “A big one.”

“Maybe,” I said, walking closer. “But it’s my mistake to make.”

He laughed, bitter and loud. “You don’t have the stomach for this. You’re not your father, he built this empire with blood. You? You’re just playing boss.”

I stopped in front of him. The whole room was watching. I could feel their eyes, waiting for what I’d do next.

“Russo,” I said, calm but firm. “You refused a direct order. You insulted me in front of the family, you tried to turn people against me. Do you deny any of that?”

He lifted his chin. “I don’t deny the truth.”

“Good,” I said. “Then we don’t need a trial.”

Murmurs rippled through the hall. Janet shifted behind me, uneasy. Marco smiled from his seat, like he was watching a show.

Russo barked a laugh. “What are you going to do, huh? Kill me? You don’t have the balls.”

I looked around the room, not at him. “This is the last time anyone here thinks they can talk to me like that and walk away.”

I signaled the guards. They pushed Russo to his knees. He cursed and struggled, but they held him down.

“You’re out,” I said.

He froze. “What?”

“You’re done,” I said clearly. “Your crew, your businesses, your cut. Everything you built under this family is gone. As of right now, you’re nothing.”

He tried to get up, shouting, “You can’t do that!”

“I just did,” I said.

The hall went dead quiet.

“You think they’ll follow you?” he yelled, jerking his head toward the others. “They’re here because of men like me, not some girl pretending to be boss.”

Marco chuckled. “He’s got a point.”

I turned to him. “Do you want to join him?”

His smile faded. “Just making an observation.”

“Make one more,” I said, “and I’ll make an example out of you too.”

The room was silent again.

I stepped closer to Russo. “You have one hour to leave this city, you show your face again, you’re done and if any of your men think about following you, they’re done too.”

One of the older capos spoke up. “You’re exiling him?”

“Yes,” I said. “And I’m taking his territory. It will be reassigned tomorrow, his money goes back to the family. His men can choose loyalty or join him in exile.”

Russo’s face twisted with rage. “You’ll regret this. You’re dead the second you leave this room.”

I leaned in close. “Then I guess I’ll have to make it to the door fast.”

I stepped back and nodded to the guards. “Get him out.”

They dragged him out kicking and shouting. His voice echoed down the hall until the door slammed shut.

For a moment, no one spoke. You could hear every breath.

Then Vance said quietly, “That was… decisive.”

“Necessary,” I said. “This is how it’s going to be. I give orders and you follow them. Anyone who doesn’t ends up like Russo.”

Marco raised a brow. “Exile today. Death tomorrow?”

“If I have to,” I said, looking right at him. “I won’t hesitate.”

We stared at each other for a long moment. Then he looked away first.

I turned back to the room. “Tell your men what you saw. This family doesn’t bow to anyone but its leader. That leader is me, accept it or leave.”

One by one, they nodded. Some quietly, some reluctantly but they nodded.

I walked out before anyone else could speak.



Janet caught up with me in the hallway. “That was intense,” she said.

“It had to be,” I replied.

“You did the right thing,” she said. “But you know what this means now.”

I stopped and looked at her. “What?”

“You’ve drawn blood without shedding any,” she said. “That makes people afraid and fear makes them dangerous.”

“I’m not here to be liked,” I said. “I’m here to lead.”

“I know,” she said softly. “Just… be careful. Russo won’t go quietly and Marco? He’s watching you even closer now.”

“Let them watch,” I said, walking toward my father’s office. “They’ll see exactly what happens when you test me.”

Janet didn’t reply. She just followed behind me as the heavy silence of the hall closed in again.

I pushed open the office door and stepped inside. My father’s chair was still there
, the same as it always was. I walked around it slowly and sat down.

It didn’t feel too big anymore.

It felt like it was finally mine.