Chapter 10 - THE MAN WHO WALKED AWAY FROM HIS EMPIRE
Dante began dismantling the criminal side of the Moretti organization.
The process was difficult.
Dangerous.
And expensive.
He cooperated with investigators.
Separated legitimate businesses from illegal operations.
And accepted independent oversight.
Some associates left.
Others turned against him.
Several properties were sold.
For the first time in decades, Dante's power diminished.
But he didn't regret the decision.
One evening, Marcus found him in the library.
“Boss?”
Dante looked up.
“Yes?”
“You know people are saying you've gone soft.”
Dante smiled faintly.
“Let them.”
Marcus hesitated.
“You used to care what they thought.”
Dante looked toward the window.
“I used to care about the wrong things.”
Meanwhile, Emily returned to school.
She had always wanted to become a medical laboratory technician.
But Aaron's death had forced her to abandon the plan.
Dante offered to pay her tuition.
She refused.
He smiled.
“I expected that.”
Emily laughed.
“Good.”
Instead, she applied for scholarships and financial aid.
She also received compensation through legal proceedings connected to Aaron's wrongful dismissal and death.
She moved into a small apartment near Lily's school.
For the first time in years, she felt something like stability.
Dante visited occasionally.
Always after asking.
He helped Lily with homework.
Burned pancakes.
And discovered that seven-year-olds had absolutely no respect for expensive furniture.
One afternoon, Lily looked at him.
“Dante?”
He smiled.
“Yes?”
“Are you still a bad guy?”
The question stopped him.
He looked toward Emily.
She didn't answer for him.
Dante crouched beside Lily.
“I've done bad things.”
Lily studied him.
“Are you going to keep doing them?”
He shook his head.
“I'm trying not to.”
She nodded thoughtfully.
“Okay.”
Then returned to her drawing.
Dante looked at Emily.
She smiled.
May you like
And for the first time, he realized that change wasn't something he could announce.
It was something he had to prove every day.
