Chapter 12 - MY UNCLE CHOSE THE EMPIRE OVER MY SISTER
Salvatore survived the club shooting.
Unfortunately for him.
I visited the hospital with Claire Bennett.
Federal agents outside.
No gun.
That bothered him more than if I had carried one.
“You brought prosecutors.”
“Yes.”
“What happened to you?”
“A three-year-old gave me a blanket.”
He stared.
I almost smiled.
Then Claire placed evidence beside his bed.
Transfers.
Calls.
Elena’s notes.
Vale’s testimony.
Salvatore closed his eyes.
“Fine.”
One word.
Decades of loyalty collapsed with it.
“Why?” I asked.
“Your father wanted out.”
“I know.”
“He would have destroyed everything.”
“Crime?”
“Family.”
“You thought those were the same thing.”
“Yes.”
At least he was honest.
“And Elena?”
“She found too much.”
My hands tightened.
“You ordered her death.”
“No.”
“Don’t.”
“I ordered her stopped.”
“That means what?”
“Take the files. Frighten her.”
“Then why did she die?”
“Dominic changed the order.”
Interesting.
Even monsters blame subordinates at the end.
Claire slid forward a recording.
Vale’s voice.
Salvatore’s.
Clear authorization:
If Elena won’t surrender the drive, make sure she never speaks again.
Salvatore stared at the ceiling.
I stood.
“Look at me.”
He did.
“My sister died believing her family would kill her.”
His face cracked slightly.
Good.
“She was right.”
I walked out.
Did not hit him.
Did not threaten him.
Nothing.
That felt better than violence.
Over the next six months, the Moretti organization imploded.
Vale cooperated.
Salvatore was charged.
Dominic pleaded guilty.
Evan entered witness protection temporarily, then chose to testify publicly.
Gabriel returned to Chicago.
Allie did not forgive him quickly.
Again, good.
I handed over criminal records from my own operations.
Claire warned me:
“You may go to prison.”
“I know.”
“You may lose everything.”
I looked through the conference-room glass.
Lily was drawing with Allie.
Fantasma asleep under the table.
“No.”
Claire followed my gaze.
“I’m trying not to.”
I dissolved illegal operations.
Sold businesses tied to trafficking and extortion.
Placed legitimate companies under independent management.
Created restitution funds.
Men called me weak.
Then unemployed.
I preferred unemployed.
My plea agreement resulted in eighteen months in federal custody because of cooperation and evidence against the larger network.
Allie heard before I told her.
She came to my office that evening.
“You’re leaving.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Three weeks.”
Lily entered carrying the gray blanket.
She knew something was wrong.
“Where are you going?”
I crouched.
“Away for a while.”
“Work?”
“No.”
“Did you do something bad?”
Children.
Always straight to the center.
“Yes.”
“Are you sorry?”
“Yes.”
“Then don’t do it again.”
Allie covered her mouth.
I laughed.
“That’s the plan.”
Lily handed me the blanket.
“Take it.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Rules.”
She thought.
Then wrapped it around my shoulders one last time.
“Okay. Remember it.”
May you like
I did.
Every single night.
