Aries stepped closer to the table.

“The council will vote now,” Aries said. “On the disposition of the Vancamp assets.”

“You cannot do this without a full quorum,” Vancamp hissed.

“The quorum is here,” Henderson said, looking around the table at the other members. “And the vote is unanimous.”

One by one, the council members nodded, their eyes fixed on Aries.

Vancamp looked at the guards in the corner, but they remained still, their heads bowed slightly toward Aries.

“Take him,” Aries said to Killian.

Killian stepped forward, grabbing Vancamp by the shoulder and pulling him out of his chair.

Vancamp did not struggle; he knew the rules of the docks.

As Killian led him out of the room, Aries turned back to the remaining council members.

“The shipments will be returned to the main manifest by morning,” Aries said. “The accounts will be audited.”

He looked at Henderson.

“And the tailor’s shop on Fifth Avenue will be rebuilt,” he added.

The council members nodded in silent agreement, their authority fully restored to Aries’s hands.

Aries turned and walked out of the room, his long coat sweeping behind him.