Chapter 14 - THE CHOICE THAT CHANGED CHICAGO
Giovanni began changing his businesses.
Not because I demanded it.
Because he wanted a future Lily could be proud of.
He separated legitimate companies from criminal operations.
Cooperated with legal counsel.
Removed violent associates.
And began stepping away from the world that had defined him for years.
It wasn't simple.
It wasn't quick.
But he kept going.
One evening, he came home exhausted.
I found him sitting in the living room.
Lily was asleep upstairs.
I sat beside him.
“Hard day?”
He nodded.
“Very.”
I took his hand.
“Do you regret it?”
He looked at me.
“No.”
“Not even a little?”
He smiled faintly.
“I regret that I didn't start sooner.”
I leaned against him.
He kissed my hair.
Then whispered:
“I want to be the kind of man Lily can trust.”
I smiled.
“You already are.”
He shook his head.
May you like
“I'm becoming him.”
And I loved him even more for knowing the difference.
