Chapter 12 - THE RECKONING IN THE PENTHOUSE
Back at the Vitale penthouse in downtown Rome, the city lights sparkled like diamonds against the dark glass windows.
The storm outside had finally cleared.
Alessandro poured two glasses of scotch, handing one to me.
We stood together by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out over the skyline.
“The federal task force has seized all Moretti assets,” Alessandro said quietly.
“The northern shipping lanes are secure.”
“And the syndicate council has officially ratified our new charter.”
I took a slow sip of the scotch, feeling the warm burn in my throat.
“You never told me you had federal protection lined up,” I noted.
“I didn't,” Alessandro admitted, looking down at his glass.
“I was ready to burn the whole world down with my bare hands.”
“You’re the one who supplied the federal dossiers to Agent Miller.”
I smiled faintly.
“Thirteen years of managing household accounts teaches you how to keep receipts, Alex.”
“You planned all of this?”
“I planned for survival,” I corrected him.
“Running away was just the catalyst to see who would follow.”
Alessandro set his glass down on the sill.
He turned to face me, his gray eyes searching my face with raw, unfiltered vulnerability.
“Does this mean the rest of our lives can finally begin?” he asked softly.
I looked at him, feeling the heavy weight of the past forty-seven days melt away completely.
The anger was gone.
May you like
The betrayal was avenged.
Only the truth remained.
