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With this death, they probably believed I would fumble and prove them wrong.
I sneered in my heart.
As we took our seats at the head of the table, I could feel the weight of their skepticism in their piercing gazes.
It was up to me to demonstrate my capability and authority, dispel any doubts they held about my leadership, and nip any rebellious or ambitious actions in the bud.
The discussion commenced, with each head expressing their opinions and concerns.
It was clear that they regarded me as inexperienced and incapable of taking charge.
Giovanni Armani, a seasoned leader known for his shrewdness, was the first to voice his doubts.
He was an ambitious man who wasn’t fond of having to follow the commands of the Cortini family, but because of our strength, he’d had no choice but to keep his comments and opinions to himself.
He probably saw this as an opportunity to break away from the control of my family if I was judged to be an incompetent leader.
I scoffed inwardly.
"Dante, it is no secret that your father had a strong hand in guiding the Cortini family. Can we be certain that you possess the same leadership qualities and tactical prowess necessary to lead us?"
I locked eyes with Giovanni, and a fire ignited within me.
"Giovanni, while I deeply respect my father's influence, I am my own man. I have spent years preparing for this role, learning from my father's guidance while also honing my skills. And let’s not forget that my father stepped down as the don of the Cortini family a couple of years ago. I can fully lead the Cortini family with strength and determination."
An air of skepticism lingered in the room, but I pressed on.
It was time to reveal the truth, to demonstrate my capabilities.
I nodded to Vito and Kramaric, signaling them to unveil our prepared evidence.
Vito stepped forward, presenting a folder filled with meticulously gathered information.
"Gentlemen, I understand your concerns. However, I present to you a collection of documents detailing the numerous successful operations that Dante personally strategized and executed under his father's guidance."
As the heads skimmed through the documents, their expressions shifted from skepticism to surprise.
They saw the numerous instances where I had showcased my leadership abilities and where I had made critical decisions that led to triumph.
It became clear that I had been more involved in the family's operations than they had initially believed.
Giuseppe Mazaranno Gotti, another don of a lesser mafia family, raised his voice.
"Forgive our doubts. It seems we underestimated your capabilities. The Cortini family is fortunate to have such a competent leader."
Giuseppe was a leader who didn’t like conflict.
He didn’t appear ambitious like Giovanni.
Several times, Giuseppe had settled a few arguments during our meetings.
It was a good trait to have, but showing too much meekness was likely to make one a target and make others think you were weak.
On the other hand, it was a good strategy for keeping out of the view of ambitious leaders.
I hummed and nodded a little bit, acknowledging their recognition.
"Thank you, Giuseppe. I understand your initial skepticism. But rest assured, I am fully committed to leading our families to continued success. Together, we can strengthen our position and ensure the prosperity of each of our organizations."
