Chapter 9 - ROMAN WITHOUT THE THRONE
Roman Costa eventually dismantled most of the criminal business attached to his name.
Not magically.
Not cleanly.
There were investigations.
Settlements.
Asset seizures.
Men who left.
Men who testified.
Roman cooperated where he had to.
Accepted consequences where evidence reached him.
He kept the legitimate logistics company.
Smaller.
Heavily audited.
Boring.
Victor called boring “the most expensive luxury Roman had ever purchased.”
Roman agreed.
Helena retired.
Then continued showing up three days a week because she hated retirement.
Morgana became assistant general manager at the diner.
Then partner.
Not because Roman bought it.
The elderly owners sold her a percentage through a real bank loan after five years of steady work.
Roman offered capital once.
Morgana stared.
He withdrew the offer.
Progress.
They dated for two years before living together.
Not in Roman’s mansion.
He sold it.
Too much history.
They bought a house together outside Boston.
Both names on the deed.
Both contributed.
Morgana’s portion smaller.
Still hers.
Roman insisted on a legal agreement protecting her equity.
She read every line.
Then hired her own lawyer.
Roman looked proud.
“That is an unhealthy reaction to legal distrust.”
“It’s hot.”
“Roman.”
“Sorry.”
He was not sorry.
Evelyn’s photograph stood in the hallway.
No shrine.
Family.
Roman sometimes stopped before it.
Morgana once caught him.
“What?”
He looked at the photograph.
“She was smarter than all of us.”
“Yes.”
“I wish she had left sooner.”
“So do I.”
Morgana took his hand.
“But that was her life.”
“Yes.”
“And this is mine.”
Roman looked at her.
May you like
“Exactly.”
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