Ch-19
“Power doesn’t expose the traitors. Pressure does.”
Adler mansion, the underground meeting room. The walls hum with silence as Georgie May Adler steps into the center. Her lieutenants — Silvio Caruso, Rafael Marino, Nick Romano — are already seated. Luca Moretti leans against the wall with a smirk. Ethan Aviel stands behind Georgie, silent, observant.]
Georgie May Adler (fl)
Let’s not waste time. Someone in this room fed intel to the enemy.
Silvio Caruso
(Grim) That’s a heavy accusation.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
And I don’t throw accusations. I deal in truth and consequences.
Rafael Marino
(Looking at the others) Do we have proof?
Georgie May Adler (fl)
Santiago intercepted a coded message. It came from inside my circle. The code used was only given to five people. Three of them are here.
Nico Bianchi
(Tense) You’re saying one of us betrayed you?
Luca Moretti
(Laughs under his breath) This is going to be fun.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Sharp) Shut up, Luca. You’re only here because I haven’t decided which side you’re on yet.
Luca Moretti
(Shrugs, amused) Wouldn’t dream of interfering. Just enjoying the show.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Speaking for the first time) Start asking the right questions… or start digging graves.
Silvio Caruso
(Visibly irritated) I’ve served this family since your father ran the city, Georgie.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
Then prove it.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
You’ll each be questioned. Separately. No one leaves until I get answers.
Nico Bianchi
That’s not how trust works.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Stepping forward, voice like ice) This isn’t about trust. It’s about survival.
Rafael Marino
[Rafael Marino]
(Lowers gaze slightly) Understood.
Later, outside the meeting room. Georgie stands near the balcony, alone. The city lights flicker in the distance. Ethan approaches.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
You handled that well.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
They’re hiding something. I can feel it.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
You scared them. That’s a good start.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
Fear isn’t loyalty.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
But it keeps knives out of your back. For a while.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Quietly) You were different in there. Controlled. Cold.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Glancing at him) And?
Ethan Aviel (ml)
I liked it.
Their eyes lock — heavy with tension. The air crackles.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
Careful, Ethan. That almost sounded like admiration.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
Maybe it was.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
You’re not making this easy.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
I’m not supposed to.
The space between them narrows. Almost… but not yet.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Whispers) One of them is lying. And when I find out who… there won’t be mercy.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
Then I’ll help you burn them.
“They were fire and ice — drawn together not despite the danger, but because of it.”
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