Carlo sat there in front of Uncle Joe, listening as he laid it all out. His face was still, unreadable, but inside, a storm was brewing. His chest felt tight, and his breath came uneven. He had known this life came with risks, but this? His good friend his brother in this thing, they were supposed to grow old in the game together, to rise up side by side. Now Leo was nothing but a memory.

Carlo exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair, his fingers crossed together. His voice, when he finally spoke, was low but firm.

"I won’t lie to you, Joe. This one hurts." He shook his head slightly, staring at the empty glass in front of him. "Leo was my friend. We had been through everything together. From selling drugs on street corners to making big backroom deals, through good times and bad, even through blood and laughter. We came up together, He taught me a lot, and showed me how to move in this life. Whatever happened… I know he did what he thought was best."

He looked up then, meeting Uncle Joe’s eyes. "But I also know you don’t make these kinds of decisions lightly. If this is the way it had to be, then who am I to say otherwise."

There was a beat of silence between them, heavy with everything unspoken.

Carlo took a breath and straightened his shoulders. "So what now? The district needs a steady hand, someone who knows the business inside and out. You want me to step in, I step in. I’ll make sure the transiton is clean and the business continue to run."

His jaw tightened slightly. "Leo was a good man. He did a lot for me, for all of us. I’ll honour what he built and make sure his work doesn’t go to waste. My job now is to look ahead, to keep going things strong, keep things heading it the right direction. You can count on me, Joe."

Carlo reached for the bottle on the table and poured himself a drink. He lifted the glass in a quiet toast, more to himself than anyone else.

"To Leo," he said, voice barely above a whisper. Then, after a pause, he added, "And to the family."