Chapter 35

• His grip whitened on the phone receiver until his knuckles shown bone-pale and corded. A hollow, rancid pit of dread yawned in the pit of his stomach as his jaw unlocked through sheer force of ingrained will.
• "Grandfather...this is a matter that requires much more discussion," he attempted to school his voice into its usual smooth, impervious timbre - the unshakable baritone that brooked no dispute. "I cannot be rushed into such permanencies without due -"
• " Enough!" Vincenzo's wrathful bellow exploded from the phone with such lung-rattling vitriol that Michael instinctively recoiled, eyes swiveling to lock gazes with Luca. The consigliere's features had paled to an ashen funereal cast, eyes going wide with unspoken apprehension at whatever virulent maelstrom was manifesting across the tightly secured line.