Chapter 12 - THE MAN WHO LEFT THE EMPIRE
Antonio's decision to cooperate with investigators changed everything.
Several businesses were placed under independent review.
Some contracts were terminated.
Certain assets were frozen while authorities examined their origins.
Antonio stepped away from day-to-day control of the family's criminal operations and began restructuring the legitimate companies under independent governance.
It wasn't easy.
People threatened him.
Former allies turned against him.
Some relatives accused him of betraying the family.
Antonio accepted the consequences.
One evening, Sofia visited his apartment in Rome.
She found him sitting beside an open suitcase.
“Going somewhere?”
He smiled faintly.
“New York.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Business?”
Antonio looked away.
“No.”
Sofia laughed.
“Oh.”
He sighed.
“Don't.”
She grinned.
“Evelyn?”
Antonio smiled.
Sofia sat beside him.
“Good.”
He looked at her.
“You approve?”
She nodded.
“She saved your life.”
Antonio smiled faintly.
Sofia continued.
“But more importantly, she doesn't seem afraid to tell you when you're being an idiot.”
He laughed.
Then she became serious.
“Just don't make her responsible for fixing you.”
Antonio nodded.
May you like
“I won't.”
And he meant it.
