Chapter 12 - SALVATORE'S REAL WILL
Salvatore DeLuca's real will was hidden behind the kitchen fireplace.
Teresa seemed almost proud of that.
“Nobody searches behind a place I clean every morning.”
Adrian stared at her.
“You've had this nine years.”
“Yes.”
“You terrify me.”
“Good.”
The will revoked several portions of the version Victor filed.
Most legitimate assets remained as expected.
Hotels to Adrian.
Freight interests divided between Adrian and Matteo.
Property trusts.
Employee pensions.
But the criminal holdings?
Salvatore had ordered them liquidated or surrendered.
No inheritance.
No transfer.
No continuation.
He had written:
MY SONS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO INHERIT MY SINS.
Adrian read it twice.
Matteo read it three times.
Then came another provision.
If either son had children, the family education and property trust would pass directly to them, beyond operational control of any DeLuca business.
Lily.
Adrian looked at Sofia.
“She gets what?”
Teresa answered.
“A trust. Legitimate assets only.”
“How much?”
Teresa named the amount.
Sofia nearly dropped her coffee.
“No.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“That's becoming your favorite word.”
“She's six.”
“It remains in trust.”
“I don't want her growing up thinking money makes her important.”
Adrian's expression softened.
“Neither do I.”
Matteo leaned back.
“Then maybe teach her that money buys books and very expensive rabbit surgery.”
From the hallway Lily shouted:
“I HEARD THAT.”
Everyone laughed.
The will also named Teresa temporary trustee if both Adrian and Matteo were compromised.
Victor had discovered this years ago.
That explained why he kept Teresa close rather than removing her.
He needed to know where the will was.
She never told him.
“Did he threaten you?” Adrian asked.
Teresa shrugged.
“Many times.”
“And?”
“I've been married twice. Victor is not the scariest man I've known.”
Matteo nearly choked.
The legal consequences were enormous.
Victor's claim to portions of the family holdings weakened further.
More importantly, the will proved Salvatore had intended to terminate the criminal network.
Adrian handed it to federal investigators.
That evening, he called every senior DeLuca operator still connected to illegal activities.
The meeting took place in the estate dining room.
Men arrived expecting strategy.
Adrian gave them an ending.
“The off-book routes close.”
Silence.
“Collections stop.”
A few men shifted.
“Weapons shipments end. Protection businesses end. Nobody uses DeLuca warehouses for illegal cargo again.”
An older man laughed.
“You think you can turn this family legitimate because you found religion?”
“No.”
Adrian leaned back.
“I found paperwork.”
Matteo covered a smile.
The man continued.
“Victor built half this network.”
“Victor is in federal custody.”
“People still answer to him.”
“Then they can visit.”
Nobody laughed.
Adrian continued.
Legitimate businesses would remain.
Employees not involved in criminal activity would keep jobs.
Anyone wanting out could leave without retaliation.
Anyone continuing illegal operations under the DeLuca name would be cut off.
Some left immediately.
Some stayed.
A few threatened consequences.
Adrian accepted them.
He had spent twenty years teaching men to fear his house.
Now he had to teach them they could walk away from it.
That was harder.
Afterward, Lily found him alone in the dining room.
“Are you sad?”
He looked at her.
“A little.”
“Why?”
“My life is changing.”
She considered.
“Mommy says changing isn't always bad.”
“Your mother says many reasonable things.”
“She says you don't listen.”
Adrian stared.
Lily smiled.
“I'm kidding.”
He laughed.
She climbed onto the chair beside him.
“Can I ask something?”
“Yes.”
“Are you my dad now?”
His chest tightened.
“I've always been your biological father.”
“I know.”
She frowned.
“I mean the other kind.”
Adrian understood.
The kind that showed up.
The kind that knew school schedules and favorite cereal.
The kind that didn't need DNA.
“I'd like to be.”
Lily nodded.
“Okay.”
Then:
“But Uncle Matt still comes to my birthday.”
“Every one.”
“And Mommy.”
“Obviously.”
“Then okay.”
She leaned against his arm.
For five minutes, Adrian said nothing.
Then Marco entered with a sealed federal evidence notice.
Victor had made a deal offer.
He wanted reduced charges in exchange for information on missing DeLuca funds.
Adrian almost refused to read it.
Then Marco gave him the final page.
Victor claimed Salvatore had hidden $18 million before his death.
Adrian looked at Teresa.
She burst out laughing.
“What?”
“There is no eighteen million.”
Victor's claim was false.
But the account number attached to his statement wasn't.
Teresa recognized it.
“That account belonged to Sofia's mother.”
Sofia froze.
“My mother?”
The woman who had supposedly died when Sofia was twelve.
Victor wasn't offering information about DeLuca money.
May you like
He was pointing toward another person presumed dead.
And this time the missing person belonged to Sofia.
