"I do."
Silence. Heavy. Waiting.
"You killed your father."
The words hang in the air. Not a question.
"I did," Luan says. No hesitation. No apology. No justification.
"That was... extreme."
"My father was a danger," Luan says. His voice stays level, but there's steel underneath now. "To the Krasniqi clan. To all of our clans. He made alliances that threatened us economically, politically, and morally."
Murmurs from the other men on the screen. Quiet. Concerned.
Luan waits. Lets the information settle. Then delivers the killing blow.
"And he broke Besa."
The screen goes completely silent.
Every man on that call goes still.
Driton's expression doesn't change. But something shifts in his eyes. Understanding. The acknowledgment of a secret shared.
"You know this," Luan says. Directly to his uncle.
Driton nods slowly. Once. "I do."
"Then you know it was justified."
Another long pause.
There's a secret there. Something between Luan and his uncle that the rest of us aren't privy to. Something about Luan's father and broken vows and consequences that couldn't be avoided.
I file it away. Information to examine later.
"Yes," Driton says finally. The word carries weight. Finality. "It was justified."
Relief floods through me. But I keep my face neutral. Keep my posture relaxed.
This is the moment everything hinges on.
"Do I have the Council's support?" Luan asks.
The five men look at each other. Murmured conversation that doesn't carry through the speakers. A private discussion happening.
Finally, Driton speaks. "Under one condition."
My stomach drops.
There's always a condition.
Luan waits. Silent. Patient.
"You must prove you are not reckless," Driton says. "That under your leadership, things will be stable. Controlled. You must have a stable family life. A marriage."
Fuck.
