Setting an Example

Setting an Example


IZZY'S POV

The laughter of his crew grew louder. They were testing me, seeing how far they could push. I knew if I backed down now, I’d never get control of them or anyone else.

I said, low but firm, “This is the last time I’ll say it. Load the trucks.”

Russo leaned back, arms crossed. “No.”

The word rang out in the warehouse like a slap. His men smirked, waiting for my reaction.

Janet whispered at my side, “Izzy, think this through. Don’t give him what he wants.”

But I shook my head. “He wants me to look weak. I won’t.”

Turning back to Russo, I said clearly, “If those trucks aren’t loaded in thirty minutes, you’re done. You and your crew are finished in this family. You’ll have nothing. No protection, no business, no territory. Nothing.”

His smirk faltered for just a second, but he recovered quickly. “You think you can cut me out? I’ve been running jobs for your father longer than you’ve been wearing heels. Nobody’s throwing me out.”

“Try me,” I said.

The air grew tense. His men shifted uneasily, their earlier laughter fading. They might joke, but the threat was real. If I made a move against Russo, they’d all be affected.

One of his guys muttered, “Boss, maybe we should just do it.”

Russo spun on him. “Shut up. She’s bluffing.” He turned back to me. “You don’t have the guts. You want me gone? You’ll have to drag me out. And I’d love to see you try.”

Janet finally stepped forward. “Russo, you’re playing with fire. She’s not bluffing.”

He barked a laugh. “Oh, please. You think she’s really in charge? This is a joke. The council will never back her on this.”

I took a slow breath. “Then we’ll see.”

He sneered, but I didn’t wait for more. I turned on my heel and walked away, Janet following me. Behind us, his men muttered nervously, unsure whether to keep laughing or start worrying.

As soon as we were outside, Janet grabbed my arm. “Izzy, that was dangerous.”

“I know,” I said, my voice tight. “But if I let him get away with that, it’s over. No one will ever take me seriously.”

She sighed. “So what now?”

“Now,” I said, looking back at the warehouse, “we make an example of him publicly.”

I walked into the main house with my blood still boiling. Janet walked beside me, silent, but I could tell she was worried. She always chewed on her lower lip when she didn’t agree with me but didn’t want to push too hard.

The moment we stepped inside, I told the guards at the door, “Send word. I want every underboss and crew leader in the main hall tonight. Non-negotiable.”

The guard blinked. “Tonight?”

“Yes, tonight,” I snapped. “If they’re busy, they’ll make time. Anyone who doesn’t show answers to me personally.”

He nodded quickly and hurried off.

Janet crossed her arms. “You’re really doing this?”

“Of course I am,” I said, walking into the hall. “Russo thinks he can laugh in my face. If I don’t respond, that laugh spreads. Then no one listens. Then I’m finished before I even start.”

She followed me. “You realize if this goes wrong, they’ll side with him.”

I stopped and faced her. “Then I’ll show them why siding with him is suicide.”


That night, the long hall filled with noise. Men crowded in groups, talking in low voices, smoking, arguing about being called on short notice. Some of them hadn’t stepped foot in this hall since my father was carried out in a stretcher.

When I entered, silence rippled across the room, not respect yet, more curiosity.

I walked up to the front, the big oak chair waiting behind the long table. My father’s chair. I didn’t sit, not yet. I wanted them to see me standing, steady, ready.

Russo was leaning against a column, arms crossed, smug smile plastered across his face. His men sat behind him, pretending not to stare at me but failing.

I let the silence hang a moment, then spoke. “I called you here tonight because a line has been crossed.”

Murmurs spread. Someone muttered, “Here we go.”

I continued. “Today I gave an order. A simple one, load the trucks, send them to the buyers. Standard business but one of our own crews decided they could refuse.”

Russo straightened, not looking the least bit worried.

Gasps and whispers broke out across the room. Nobody refused an order, not from my father and not from me.

I looked straight at Russo. “You want to say it yourself, or should I?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Go ahead. Tell your story.”

“Fine.” I raised my voice. “Russo refused to follow orders. He told me directly that he doesn’t take commands from me. He mocked this family’s chain of command and he thought there would be no consequence.”

A few heads turned toward him. Some people shifted uncomfortably.

Russo smirked. “Yeah, I said it, because it’s true. I don’t take orders from you. You’re not your father, you never will be. Half the people in this room agree with me, they’re just too scared to say it.”

The room erupted in murmurs again. Some nods, some frowns.

I slammed my hand on the table, hard enough that it echoed. “Enough.”

The room went quiet.

I locked eyes with Russo. “You want to test me? Fine. But do it in front of everyone, not behind my back. Say it again. Tell the family you refuse me.”

Russo smirked and stood taller. “I refuse you.”

Every eye in the room was on us. Some people looked thrilled, others horrified.

I took a slow step toward him. “Then you’re finished.”

He chuckled. “You don’t have the power to finish me.”

I raised my hand, signaling to the guards by the door. They moved forward, guns at their sides, eyes locked on Russo.

The room erupted in shouting.

“What the hell is this?”
“She’s serious look at her face.”
“You can’t just..”

I cut through the noise. “I can and I will. My father built this family on loyalty and obedience. You don’t get to spit on that. Russo has chosen defiance. That means he’s
no longer one of us.”

Russo’s smirk faltered. “You’re bluffing.”

“No,” I said calmly. “I’m setting an example.”