Chapter 7 - THE MAN WHO DISCOVERED FEAR WAS NOT LOYALTY
Dominic Moretti was arrested before Lorenzo could walk without assistance.
That bothered him.
I enjoyed that.
“You wanted dramatic stairs?”
I asked.
“I wanted to stand.”
“You nearly died.”
“Repeatedly mentioned.”
Rehabilitation humbled him more effectively than any rival ever had.
Standing.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
A walker.
Then twelve steps.
His left hand remained weaker.
Concentration tired him quickly.
He hated all of it.
Mia visited once only after doctors approved and only because she asked why “the sleeping mister” had disappeared from the upstairs room.
I told her the truth appropriate for three.
“He woke up.”
Her eyes widened.
“My song?”
“No.”
Important.
“The doctors helped him wake up.”
She frowned.
“But he heard me?”
“Yes.”
That satisfied her.
When Mia finally saw Lorenzo awake, she hid behind my leg.
The terrifying mafia boss looked more frightened than she did.
He sat in a chair.
No machines except a small monitor.
Mia whispered:
“You're awake.”
“So I've been told.”
She stared.
“Do you remember me?”
Lorenzo thought.
“Your voice.”
Mia smiled.
Then held up the gray rabbit.
“This is Button.”
Lorenzo nodded solemnly.
“Good name.”
“It has no buttons.”
He glanced at me.
I shrugged.
Toddler logic.
Then Mia asked:
“Were you scared?”
The room became quiet.
Lorenzo answered honestly.
“Yes.”
She considered.
“Mommy says being scared is okay.”
“I've recently heard similar advice.”
Mia walked closer.
Not touching.
“Do you want me to sing?”
Lorenzo looked at me.
I answered first.
“Only if you want to sing.”
Mia thought.
Then:
“No.”
Lorenzo smiled.
“Fair.”
She handed him Button instead.
“For five minutes.”
That nearly broke him more than the song ever had.
Five minutes later, she reclaimed the rabbit precisely.
No sentimental exceptions.
After she left, Lorenzo stared at the doorway.
“She doesn't know who I am.”
“No.”
“Good.”
That surprised me.
He continued:
“I've spent twenty years thinking fear was proof people respected the structure.”
“And?”
“Turns out frightened people hide problems.”
Mateo.
Elena.
Staff.
Everyone who had learned not to question Moretti authority.
Lorenzo began changing that.
Outside medical oversight.
Independent vehicle inspections.
Anonymous reporting.
Security leadership removed from family control.
The Moretti board resisted.
Lorenzo answered:
May you like
“My cousin nearly killed me because no one questioned family authority.”
Not much argument remained after that.
