American variety show: Sniper Elite

Chapter 90 Dispute
The castle banquet hall was so empty that the echoes of clinking knives and forks could be heard.

A giant crystal chandelier hangs from the center of the ceiling, almost touching the long table, illuminating the rectangular dining table that can seat dozens of people.

At this moment, only four diners were seated at the sixteen-meter-long dining table.

Jaina sat in the main seat, with a simple steak set meal in front of her.

To her left, in front of Beta, dinner was much more lavish: steaming Wellington steak, seafood stew with sauce, a sashimi platter on crushed ice, and two glasses of wine from different vintages.

Ashley, to her right, had an equally lavish spread in front of her, but no alcoholic beverages. Ashley sat up straight, cutting her steak with stiff, measured movements.

At the far end of the long table, John Wick had only a cold steak and a piece of dry bread. He had long since finished his meal and now silently gazed at the brightly lit other end.

Gianna rested her chin on her hands, watching with a smile as Beta devoured the last piece of Wellington steak. As Beta tilted his head back and finished his glass of red wine, the smile in her eyes deepened, and the light from the crystal chandelier refracted into tiny specks of light in her azure pupils.

Ashley's use of cutlery maintained a specific rhythm, turning dinner into a kind of ritual.

John couldn't contain himself and asked, "How exactly do we resolve the blood pact issue?"

Gianna looked up at John across the table and said calmly, "Are you full? If you are, go and take care of Santino."

Beta's gaze darted between the two men: "That would invite the High Table to hunt us down."

Jaina nodded slightly: "That's right, it's him who's being hunted, not my Sauron. Is there a problem?"

Beta was momentarily speechless, then said, "Perhaps... we can think of another way?"

Jaina said, "The High Table? It sounds so glamorous, like some kind of behemoth that controls the underworld. But in reality, it's just a platform for exchanging interests."

“All members are gathered together for interests, uphold the rules for interests, and make those chilling decisions for interests. Therefore, my struggle with Santino has never been just an internal matter of the Antonio family.”

"Do you know why Santino is confident he can secure my seat and prevent the Antonio family from losing their High Table membership? It's because he has promised his High Table supporters enough benefits. Benefits are the only reason they support him."

"So, if we want to get rid of Santino, we first need to get those who have benefited from him to give up on him. This is not something that can be solved by me simply ordering someone to kill him."

Her gaze fell on Salon: "The best way is to let Mr. John Wick deal with Santino single-handedly, and then let the High Table hunt him down. As for Salon, all you need to do is live peacefully under my protection."

John took a deep breath: "Jaina, the blood pact on Santino's hand wasn't signed for my own sake, it was for us, for you and Saron. I apologize for what happened between Helen and me. But now, shouldn't we think about whether there's a better way to resolve this?"

Jaina gazed at John: "Of course there's a better way. How about we make a deal?"

John frowned slightly: "What deal?"

Gianna turned to Beta: “No matter what methods we use, there’s no guarantee that Santino won’t reveal Salong and my relationship when he’s on his deathbed. He’ll make sure the entire underworld knows Salong’s identity. So after this is done, Salong won’t need to hide anymore.” She looked at John again, her tone leaving no room for argument: “My conditions are simple: we resolve the blood pact issue, Salong stays in Italy, and the Antonio family’s power is inherited by my child. As for you, go back to your New York.”

Beta looked at Ashley across from him, whose mouth was slightly agape and whose face was filled with shock.

“Saron is our son,” John said in a deep voice.

“Really? Our son?” Jaina raised her voice. “According to the life we ​​planned for him, he should be a successful businessman who moves effortlessly between the legal and illegal worlds, a real big shot!”

"But what is he now? Where did he get that killing skill from? How did he become a professional hitman who takes on jobs? Why is he being investigated by the French and British security services?" Gianna suddenly stood up: "Is all of this... because of me? Or should I ask you!"

Beta tried to ease the tense atmosphere: "Perhaps... let John sit closer? We can talk more calmly."

Jaina's gaze swept over Beta, and at that moment, the mafia queen's majesty completely overshadowed her mother's gentleness.

“Salong.” Her voice lowered. “I have never let him down.”

She slowly rose to her feet: "For decades, I have navigated the cannibalistic Antonio family. Every step I take is a perilous journey. I must survive while climbing to the top. I have imagined countless times the scene of our reunion. When I have conquered all of Italy for you and secured your seat at the High Table, you will take over the power I have prepared for you as easily as picking a ripe apple, and become a true emperor."

Gianna's voice suddenly trembled: "In those dark and maddening days, I even fantasized about how warm and beautiful our family would be reunited."

“But all of this!” she suddenly pointed at John, “he ruined it all!”

"The blood I shed! The tears I cried! The price I paid!" Jaina's roar shook the crystal chandelier. "I did the impossible! And this bastard!"

She grabbed a bottle and smashed it at John: "You can't even do the most basic thing like taking care of yourself!"

The wine bottle shattered on the plate in front of John, and sauce splattered on his face.

Jaina roared hysterically, "While you were all lovey-dovey with that bitch Helen, I was fucking fighting for my life, almost getting shot in Milan! Tell me! Was it me who betrayed my vows? Was it me who ruined my son's life? Was it me who tore this family apart?!"

Her final question turned into a sob, her meticulously manicured nails digging into her palms, blood dripping from between her fingers onto the snow-white tablecloth.

Beta's gaze lingered between John and Jaina before he finally sighed and stood up.

He gently grasped Jaina's blood-soaked hand and turned to Ashley, saying, "Go get the first-aid kit."

Ashley tore off her napkin and quickly left the banquet hall.

Beta pulled the trembling Jaina into his arms, patting her back reassuringly as he said to John, "She's just too excited. John, you have sauce on your face."

(End of this chapter)