Page 47 of Ivory Obsession
My father pondered this, his fingers tapping a slow, deliberate rhythm on the tabletop. “Proceed with your tests,” he said at last, giving me a nod so slight it could have been missed. “But remember, Dante, we are Morettis. We don’t just adapt; we control.”
“Understood,” I said. I felt the weight of what we were embarking upon settle around me like a cloak. Tonight, I had convinced the most powerful men in the room to walk a razor’s edge. Tomorrow, I’d have to deliver on the promise of revolution.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” my uncle, who rarely spoke, asked. Tony was a terrifying man–I didn’t like him at all, and my dad liked him even less, but he had to be there.
“Yes, Tony. The projections,” I started. “They’re more than promising. We’re talking about an expansion of revenue streams that makes our traditional rackets look like chump change.”
I laid out the charts and graphs across the mahogany table, each line and curve a testament to the potential that lay within our grasp. They all studied them, his eyes sharp as razors, missing nothing.
“Biotechnology,” Tony mused, his finger tracing the upward trend on the graph. “You’re certain this isn’t a house of cards?”
“Solid as concrete,” I assured him. The figures didn’t lie. “We dominate this niche, we don’t just survive, we thrive—eclipsing the Carusos in ways they can’t even imagine.”
My dad’s nod was slow, cautious. A seasoned predator giving respect to a new weapon, but wary of its bite.
“I don’t know about this,” Jago said.
“Well, good thing he didn’t ask you,” my father replied. “A preliminary trial, then. Quiet as the grave, Dante. If there’s even a hint of a leak, or if security doesn’t hold up...”
“Then we pull the plug,” I finished for him. “But it won’t come to that. I’ve got people on this who are ghosts; they make sounds vanish.”
“Good.” Enzo leaned back, the leather chair creaking under his weight. “But remember, we tread softly until we’re sure. The last thing we need is the Carusos sniffing around before we’re ready to move.”
“Understood,” I replied, feeling the weight of his trust like a mantle on my shoulders. This was it—the moment where I steered us into new territory, away from the bloody streets and into the silent war of technology and information.
The old man stood, signaling the end of the discussion. His movements were deliberate, every inch the Don who’d navigated a lifetime of threats. “Stay sharp,” he said. “And Dante? Make me proud.”
Chapter Nineteen: Dante
Istood by the window of my office, high above the city that never sleeps, feeling like a damn traitor. The guilt was a heavy load, pressing down on my chest with each thought of Jade’s ID card, now in my possession, and the research I had accessed - her life’s work, handed over to the Moretti family like it was nothing more than a bargaining chip.
My reflection stared back at me, a troubled man trapped between the world he was born into and the one he yearned for. In the stillness of my office, I could almost hear the whispers of betrayal echoing off the walls, mingling with the distant hum of New York below.
Enough. Shifting gears, I reached for my phone with a resolve that masked the storm inside. Dialing the number of an exclusive seaside restaurant, I pictured Jade’s face, imagined the way her eyes would light up under the soft glow of candlelight. For a moment, the tension that had carved itself into my features eased at the thought of her smile.
“Reservation for two,” I said into the receiver, my voice steady despite the anticipation drumming through my veins. Tonight, I’d see her smile, bask in the light of her presence, and try to forget the darkness of my own deeds. Tonight, it was about her.
“Do you want your usual table, Mr. Moretti?”
“No, I want the whole venue,” I replied.
“We normally take venue reservations well in advance—“
“I don’t care,” I said. “I’ll pay you triple your asking price, and half again if you manage to get it ready within the hour. Just the chef and your best server.”
The line went silent for a moment before the voice returned, a note of surprise apparent even over the phone. “Of course, Mr. Moretti. Consider it done.” I hung up right away and ran my fingers through my hair, taking a deep breath as I tried to swallow the tight knot of anxiety lodged in my throat.
“Good,” I said. “Thank you.”
I hung up, sinking back into the plush leather of my office chair. There was a bitter irony coloring my actions; here I was, securing entire restaurants for Jade while behind her back, endangering her life’s work. Forcing down a sigh with a swig of my bourbon, I was reminded once again of the life I was neck-deep in – one where duplicity was a currency more valuable than the greenbacks itself.
I opened my laptop, the glow of the screen illuminating the dark room. I clicked through Jade’s research files, each page a testament to her intellect. She was making strides in biotechnology that could change the game for many, and here I was, stuck in a world where power plays overshadowed human progress.
“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, feeling the weight of my actions. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t let her get caught up in this life, yet here we were. The thought of her becoming collateral damage was something I couldn’t stomach. With every click, I admired her more and despised myself for betraying her trust.
“Get a hold of yourself, Dante,” I scolded. This wasn’t about me or the shadows I inhabited; it was about doing right by Jade. I owed her that much.
But…how could I tell her? She needed to get away from me, get away from all this.