Chapter 7 - THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ACCIDENT
Matteo did not kill Sofia.
That was the next twist.
Federal investigators found him before Dante did.
Under questioning, Matteo confessed that he had followed Sofia.
But not to murder her.
To retrieve the evidence.
He had been diverting Moretti operations for years, keeping illegal contracts alive while convincing Dante they had ended.
Sofia discovered it.
Matteo followed her on the highway.
He called repeatedly.
He tried to force her to pull over.
Then rain intensified.
Sofia accelerated.
Matteo followed.
She lost control.
Her car crossed the median.
The crash killed her.
Matteo never touched her vehicle.
Never ordered her death.
But he caused the circumstances.
Then he erased tracking records afterward.
Dante wanted murder charges.
The prosecutor explained that the law would decide what could be proven.
Dante hated that.
Clara understood.
“So he gets away with it?”
“No.”
“He took her from Leo.”
“Yes.”
“He took five years from me.”
“Yes.”
Dante looked at her.
“What am I supposed to do with that?”
“Not give it to Leo.”
He went silent.
That evening, Dante told his son the truth.
Not every adult detail.
Enough.
“Your mom died in an accident because someone made dangerous choices.”
Leo stared at the piano.
“Was it my fault?”
Dante's face broke.
“No.”
“Because I was loud that morning.”
“No.”
“She was upset.”
Dante crossed the room, then stopped before touching him.
“Can I sit beside you?”
Leo nodded.
Dante sat.
“It was never your fault.”
Leo's hands twisted.
Dante continued:
“Not because you were loud. Not because you needed things. Not because you're autistic. Not because of anything you did.”
Leo's eyes filled.
Clara turned away.
This moment belonged to them.
After a while, Leo leaned sideways.
His shoulder touched Dante's arm.
Dante didn't move.
Didn't hug him.
Didn't turn the moment into what he wanted.
He simply let his son choose the contact.
May you like
For the first time in years, father and son grieved Sofia together.
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