My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin novel Chapter 325

Chapter 325: A Dignified Death for a Dignified Man

Another wave of suffocating silence swept through the room as everyone’s eyes drifted to the men lining the walls. Every last one of Ashley’s people had their hands in the air, a few of them visibly smug about it.

The chamber members and their staff were not amused.

Gustav, for his part, was fighting a losing battle against a smile. Lukas just scrunched his nose — their votes didn’t count, and the whole thing was absurd, and yet...

His gaze wandered until it found Nikki. Her expression had gone dark. Seeing it didn’t satisfy him the way it might have once. Instead, there was a tightness in his chest, because he knew — this time, they were not on the same side.

"Oh!" Ashley turned to the room with a bright smile. "It looks like I have quite a few votes."

"That’s not quite how it works." Memphis let out a mild laugh and pushed his glasses up. "The vote for the next Black Dragon is cast exclusively by the members of the High Chamber and a select few outside it."

He smiled pleasantly. "No offense intended, Madam. I mean none at all. Though I will say, your men voted for you without a moment’s hesitation. That counts for something."

"Madam." Another member cleared his throat, visibly working to keep his composure. "Even for a first appearance, one is expected to have some understanding of how Dominion is structured. We acknowledge that the master chose to keep you removed from this side of things. But basic respect for this chamber is still expected."

"This is not an ordinary meeting," a third added. "Regardless of how you entered, this room demands a certain standard. You may not intend to make a mockery of us, but ignorance of how to conduct yourself here is its own kind of disrespect."

They kept their tones measured, even courteous. But the words were pointed, and they knew exactly where to aim them.

It was a notable shift from when she’d first walked in. These men were quick to recalibrate. They had seen what happened when they weren’t, and none of them were interested in repeating it.

"I’m not mocking this council," Ashley replied evenly. "And as I said, I am only nominating myself as a temporary proxy until the Black Dragon recovers."

Frowns rippled across the table. Lukas and Gustav both looked at her.

"What do you mean by that?" Frank asked. "Madam, we are already aware of the master’s condition. We know there is no cure."

"If you know that, then I assume you also know there are ways to prolong his life," Ashley said. "And yet, this council keeps circling back to my inexperience and my ignorance of Dominion, rather than making that the actual focus of this meeting."

Her jaw tightened. "Lucian built this organization the way it is now. He is the reason everyone in this room, in this territory, operates within a legitimate empire. And yet this council is already deliberating over who replaces him — as if the man you’re trying to replace is so easily replaced."

Quiet settled over the room again with every eye on her.

Those loyal to Lucian gave subtle nods. Those who opposed him did not.

Just from the reactions, it wasn’t hard to tell who stood where.

Frank offered a small, unexpected smile. "Madam, everything I am doing is for the master’s sake."

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