Respect or Consequences

Respect or Consequences


IZZY’S POV

The training yard was louder than usual that morning. Since Marco’s exile, everything felt like it was hanging by a thread. People were polite, careful, but I could feel it in the air, doubt and doubt spreads fast.

I walked down the steps and into the yard. Conversations stopped almost immediately. “Morning,” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

A few mumbled greetings followed, nothing enthusiastic. Matteo was walking a few steps behind me, silent as always, scanning the faces.

“Line up,” I said. “All of you.”

There was a pause. Just long enough for me to notice before they moved. Some shuffled into place quickly, others slower, exchanging glances. That pause told me more than words could.

I started walking down the line, hands behind my back, watching them one by one. Most looked away when I met their eyes, one didn’t.

“Something wrong, Nico?” I asked, stopping in front of him.

He didn’t blink. “No, boss.”

Boss. The word came out flat, like he didn’t mean it.

I tilted my head. “Say it again.”

He smirked, just a little. “No, boss.”

The others went quiet. Even the birds seemed to stop making noise, i watched him for a moment. Nico was new, barely a year in and already thought he could test me. Every group has one, the one who thinks leadership is up for debate.

“Step forward,” I said.

He did, slow and cocky, like he was doing me a favor. That was his first mistake.

“What’s your job here?” I asked.

“Follow orders,” he said.

“And whose orders would those be?”

“Yours,” he said, still smirking.

I circled him once, slow and deliberate. “Then why does it sound like you’re having trouble saying ‘boss’ without choking?”

A couple of guys shifted uncomfortably. Nico shrugged. “I just call respect when I see it. I follow strength, not a last name.”

Matteo took a small step closer, but I lifted my hand to stop him. This was mine to handle.

“You don’t think I’m strong?” I asked.

“I think you’re new at this,” Nico said. “And people follow your father, not you. Everyone’s waiting to see how long you last.”

A ripple went through the line. No one spoke, but I felt their eyes on me, waiting to see what I’d do. This was exactly what I had expected, the challenge that had to happen.

I took one slow step closer until I was right in front of him. “You’re right, i am new at this but you’re forgetting something important.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“I’m still the one in charge,” I said quietly. “And that means you’re standing there right now because I let you.”

He opened his mouth to say something else, but I moved first. I grabbed the front of his shirt and shoved him hard against the wall behind the lineup. The breath left his lungs with a sharp grunt.

“Do you think this is a game?” I said, my voice calm but sharp.

His eyes widened slightly, but he still tried to act like it didn’t faze him. “You’re proving my point.”

I leaned in closer. “No, I’m proving mine. You don’t challenge me in front of my people, you don’t undermine me ever.”

I let him go and stepped back. “Kneel.”

He stared at me. “What?”

“I said kneel.” i shouted.

Silence. Everyone was watching, his pride and my authority were clashing right there in the dirt. If I blinked first, I’d lose everything I had built since Marco walked out.

Nico swallowed, but he didn’t move. “I don’t kneel.”

“Then you don’t belong here,” I said. “Get out.”

That got a reaction. A few of them looked shocked, a few looked impressed. Nico’s eyes darted around, searching for support, no one moved.

“You’re serious?” he asked.

“Dead serious,” I said. “You have ten seconds to walk off this ground. After that, you’re dragged out.”

His jaw clenched. “You’re throwing me out for telling the truth?”

“No,” I said. “I’m throwing you out for forgetting your place.”

He hesitated for a second too long. Matteo started walking toward him. That’s when Nico finally moved, shoving Matteo’s hand away as he stormed out of the yard. The gate slammed behind him.

I turned back to the others. “Anyone else have something to say?”

No one answered. No one even looked up.

“Good,” I said. “Then listen carefully. I’m not my father, i’m not Marco and I don’t need anyone’s permission to run this family. You’re here because you chose to be but if you’re here, you follow my lead. No exceptions.”

Matteo stepped closer to me as the men started to disperse. “That was the right call.”

“I know,” I said, even though a small part of me hated it. “It still doesn’t feel good.”

“It’s not supposed to,” he said. “It’s supposed to work.”

I watched the gate Nico had walked through. “He’ll talk.”

“Probably,” Matteo said. “But talk is wind and wind doesn’t move mountains.”

I let out a slow breath. “I don’t want fear to be the only thing keeping them here.”

“It won’t be,” he said. “But fear is the language they understand first. Respect comes later.”

We started walking back toward the house. My head was buzzing, it wasn’t just about Nico. It was about what his words meant that people still saw me as Vincenzo’s daughter, not the one running things. That wasn’t going to change overnight.

Halfway to the steps, Matteo spoke again. “You know this won’t be the last one, right?”

“I know,” I said. “And the next one might be worse.”

He nodded. “Then you’d better be ready.”

I stopped at the door and looked back at the yard one more time. The men were already back to training, talking in low voices. Some were glancing toward the gate, probably wondering what Nico would do next.

Let him talk, I thought. Let him rant, let him threaten, it wouldn’t change anything. If anything, it would make the story travel faster, the story that Izzy Marino doesn’t flinch.

“Let’s tighten things,” I said, stepping inside. “Cut access for anyone who hasn’t earned it. I want everyone’s loyalty checked again quietly.”

Matteo nodded. “I’ll handle it.”

“And Matteo?” I added, glancing back o
ver my shoulder. “If Nico comes back, he doesn’t walk past the gate.”

“Understood.”

I walked up the stairs and into my office