Chapter 9 - The Empire He Walked Away From
Samuel Reed lived.
That mattered.
A dead man could become a mystery.
A living man could become a witness.
Within two weeks, he had been charged with kidnapping, attempted murder, conspiracy, corruption, obstruction, and crimes connected to Julia Moretti’s death.
Raymond Vale accepted a plea agreement.
Dr. Simon Reed was arrested in Arizona.
Three police officers resigned before federal agents reached their homes.
Two judges suddenly discovered retirement.
The Moretti name appeared on every news channel in the country.
Vittorio made a decision nobody expected.
He cooperated.
Not partially.
Completely.
He handed Rachel Dunn everything.
Accounts.
Names.
Properties.
Deals.
Every secret his empire had spent decades protecting.
Leo sat beside me in Sophie’s hospital room when the announcement appeared on television.
MORETTI PATRIARCH AGREES TO FEDERAL COOPERATION.
Sophie whistled.
“That sounds bad.”
Leo smiled.
“For him?”
“For Thanksgiving.”
I laughed.
Vittorio would still face consequences.
Leo did not ask Rachel to save him.
Neither did I.
Some mistakes could be forgiven privately and punished publicly at the same time.
Three weeks after the storm, Sophie walked out of the hospital.
I cried more than she did.
She wore a ridiculous red coat Leo bought her after I specifically told him not to buy her anything expensive.
“How much was that?”
Sophie looked innocent.
“Thirty dollars.”
Leo coughed.
I stared at him.
“Leo.”
“Sale.”
“Leo.”
“It was cold.”
Sophie whispered, “Don’t ruin this for me.”
I pointed at both of them.
“You are terrible.”
Leo smiled.
It had become easier for him to smile.
He slept more.
He carried less anger in his shoulders.
He had also officially resigned from every family company under investigation.
The legitimate businesses would eventually reopen under independent management.
The criminal operations were gone.
One evening, we drove back to the groundskeeper’s cabin.
It had been repaired.
New roof.
New windows.
Same kitchen table.
I walked inside and stopped.
On the wall hung my father’s photograph.
Underneath was a brass plaque.
DANIEL HAYES.
HE TOLD THE TRUTH WHEN POWER REFUSED TO LISTEN.
I turned toward Leo.
“You did this?”
“No.”
Vittorio stood in the doorway.
I had not seen him in two weeks.
He looked tired.
Older.
Human.
“This was my responsibility.”
I stared at the plaque.
“I don’t know if Dad would want his name in a Moretti building.”
Vittorio smiled sadly.
“Then it is no longer a Moretti building.”
He handed me an envelope.
I didn’t take it.
“What is it?”
“The deed.”
“To what?”
“This land. The cabin. Twelve acres.”
“No.”
“I expected that.”
“You really need a new strategy.”
“I’m trying.”
Leo looked amused.
Vittorio continued.
“It does not belong to you because I am paying a debt.”
“Then why?”
“Because your father protected what was right here for sixteen years.”
He looked around the cabin.
“It should belong to his daughters.”
I thought about Sophie.
Dad.
The terrible apartment where we had lived after he was fired.
The nights he came home exhausted and still made us pancakes.
I took the envelope.
“Thank you.”
Vittorio’s eyes softened.
“You’re welcome.”
He left us alone.
Leo stood by the fireplace.
“What are you going to do with twelve acres?”
“Sell it.”
His face fell.
I smiled.
“I’m kidding.”
“That was cruel.”
“I’m learning from your family.”
He came closer.
“What do you want?”
I knew exactly what I wanted.
“A place for families like mine.”
He listened.
“For people waiting on surgeries. Parents sleeping in hospital chairs. Sisters trying to figure out whether groceries or medication matters more this week.”
Leo’s expression changed.
“A respite house.”
“Maybe.”
“A nonprofit.”
“Maybe.”
“A terrible financial decision.”
“Definitely.”
“I’m in.”
“No.”
He frowned.
“Why not?”
“Because it has to be mine.”
He stared at me.
Then slowly nodded.
“Okay.”
I was surprised.
“That easy?”
“No.”
He smiled.
“But I’m improving.”
“You are.”
He touched my cheek.
“What am I allowed to do?”
“Help build things.”
“I can do that.”
“Donate anonymously.”
“That hurts.”
“You’ll survive.”
“Barely.”
I laughed.
Then he kissed me.
Months earlier, a kiss from Leo Moretti would have terrified me.
Now it felt like coming home.
Afterward, he rested his forehead against mine.
“Leora.”
“Hmm?”
“I don’t know what my life looks like anymore.”
“That makes two of us.”
“I used to.”
“What did it look like?”
“Blackwood. The company. My father’s chair.”
“And now?”
He looked around the little cabin.
Then at me.
“I think smaller.”
“That sounds healthy.”
“Maybe a house.”
“Dangerous.”
“A dog.”
“I don’t like where this is going.”
“Three dogs.”
“Absolutely not.”
He smiled.
“And you.”
The joke disappeared between us.
I felt my eyes sting.
“Leo.”
“I’m not asking you for anything tonight.”
“Good.”
“I’m just telling you.”
He took my hand.
“Whatever life I build next, I want you in it.”
I looked at the man I had once dragged through a freezing forest while telling myself I owed him nothing.
Maybe that was still true.
I did not owe him love.
That was why giving it freely mattered.
“I want you in mine too.”
Outside, snow began falling.
Softly this time.
May you like
Not a storm.
And for once, neither of us had anywhere to run.
