Chapter 10 - THE NIGHT THE KINGPIN SURRENDERED HIS CROWN
Damian Cross made his decision on a Thursday morning.
He called his senior managers into a conference room.
Reed wasn't there.
There was no Reed in Damian's organization.
Only men who had spent years fearing the consequences of disobedience.
Damian stood at the head of the table.
“I have an announcement.”
Silence.
He continued.
“The criminal operations are ending.”
Several men stared.
One laughed nervously.
“Boss?”
Damian looked at him.
“I'm serious.”
He explained that legitimate businesses would be separated from unlawful operations under independent oversight.
Records would be preserved.
Authorities would receive cooperation.
Employees uninvolved in wrongdoing would be given support in finding lawful work.
One man stood.
“You can't just walk away.”
Damian looked at him.
“I can.”
The man shook his head.
“After everything we built?”
Damian's voice hardened.
“After everything we destroyed.”
Silence.
Then Damian continued.
“I spent fifteen years believing loyalty meant silence.”
He looked around the room.
“That's how Marcus survived.”
Nobody spoke.
He placed a folder on the table.
“Anyone who wants to cooperate with the investigation will have access to independent legal counsel.”
Then he walked out.
Later, I found him alone in his office.
He stood beside the window.
Las Vegas stretched beneath him.
I approached.
“Are you okay?”
He laughed softly.
“Not particularly.”
I smiled faintly.
He looked at me.
“I don't know who I am without all this.”
I stared.
Then said:
“Maybe that's the point.”
He looked at me.
I continued.
“You don't have to be the man everyone fears.”
Damian swallowed.
“Who should I be?”
I thought about my father.
About the recording.
About the life I'd spent trying to rebuild.
Then I said:
“Someone you can live with.”
For a long time, Damian didn't speak.
May you like
Then he nodded.
“I'd like that.”
