Chapter 10 - THE MAN WHO CAME BACK
Matteo was arrested several weeks later.
Investigators located him in a neighboring state.
He faced charges connected to the conspiracy against Enzo and other alleged offenses.
During questioning, Matteo claimed that he had acted to protect the Marchetti organization from Enzo's increasingly reckless decisions.
He described Enzo as unstable.
Unfit.
Dangerous.
Enzo listened to the allegations through his attorney.
For years, Matteo had been the person who stood beside him when everyone else stepped away.
Now he was trying to use Enzo's injury as evidence that Enzo should never regain control of his life.
Wren found Enzo sitting quietly afterward.
"What happened?"
He looked at her.
"He says I'm broken."
Wren sat opposite him.
"Do you believe him?"
Enzo hesitated.
"Some days."
She nodded.
"That's understandable."
He looked up.
She continued.
"But needing help doesn't mean someone else gets to own your decisions."
Enzo studied her.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then he said:
"I don't know how to be this version of myself."
Wren smiled gently.
"Then learn."
He laughed bitterly.
"Just like that?"
"No."
She leaned forward.
"Slowly. Badly. With mistakes. Like everyone else."
Enzo looked at her.
Then smiled.
That evening, he asked his rehabilitation team to help him develop a plan for greater independence.
May you like
Not to become the man he had been.
To become the man he wanted to be.
