Chapter 10 - THE FALL OF THE MORETTI EMPIRE
The investigation lasted eleven months.
Victor Serrano's network collapsed.
Several port officials were charged with corruption.
Shipping executives were convicted of fraud and trafficking-related crimes.
Rey pleaded guilty to multiple offenses after prosecutors presented the evidence against him.
Leo cooperated with investigators.
He surrendered records.
Testified about illegal operations.
Accepted responsibility for crimes he had personally authorized.
His organization lost contracts, property, and influence.
Several businesses were sold or placed under independent management.
His attorneys warned him that he might never recover financially.
Leo looked at them.
"Then I won't."
He had spent most of his life believing that power meant never allowing anyone to take something from him.
Now he was learning that accountability sometimes required surrendering what he had no right to keep.
Sadi watched the news from her new apartment.
She had moved out of the place she once shared with Rey.
Her furniture was secondhand.
Her kitchen was small.
The heating system made strange noises.
But every key belonged to her.
Every door opened because she chose to open it.
And nobody shouted when she dropped a cup.
She continued physical therapy.
The fracture healed.
Some stiffness remained.
But she could raise her arm again.
One afternoon, she returned to Frankie's Diner.
Frankie looked embarrassed when he saw her.
"I heard about the trial," he said.
Sadi nodded.
He cleared his throat.
"I wasn't fair to you."
"No."
He looked down.
"I'm sorry."
Sadi considered the apology.
"Thank you."
He offered her a job.
She smiled.
"No."
Frankie looked surprised.
"I've got something else planned."
May you like
She walked out into the afternoon sunshine.
For the first time in years, she knew exactly where she was going.
