Chương 7 - FERRERI’S LAST MOVE
Ferreri was indicted in spring.
Fraud.
Conspiracy.
Witness intimidation.
Financial crimes.
The attempted-murder case connected to Lorenzo remained harder.
Then Ferreri made the mistake desperate men always make.
He tried to solve evidence with more crime.
Paolo Rinaldi disappeared from protective housing.
Not successfully.
Investigators found him six hours later in a warehouse owned by a Ferreri affiliate.
Alive.
Beaten.
Terrified.
And finally willing to tell everything.
Ferreri knew Lorenzo’s route.
Ferreri hired the trucking intermediary.
The intention was to kill him.
Not injure.
The paralysis had been an unintended result of Lorenzo surviving.
When Enzo told him, Lorenzo felt almost nothing at first.
Then rage.
Not because his legs did not work.
Because someone had intended to erase every day after the crash.
Sofia found him alone in the estate gym.
He was doing upper-body work too aggressively.
“Stop.”
“No.”
“Your shoulder is compensating.”
“I’m fine.”
“You're furious.”
He dropped the resistance cable.
“Everyone keeps diagnosing me.”
“You surround yourself with observant people.”
He looked at her.
“Ferreri meant to kill me.”
“I heard.”
“He took two years.”
Sofia shook her head.
“No.”
He snapped:
“Do not tell me how to feel.”
“I’m not.”
She approached.
“I’m telling you he doesn't own those years.”
“Easy for you.”
“No.”
Her voice hardened.
“Do not do that.”
He stopped.
“Do what?”
“Decide disability means nobody else is allowed to understand loss.”
Silence.
Sofia’s younger brother had died at twenty.
Lorenzo knew.
Car accident.
She rarely discussed it.
“I’m sorry.”
“Good.”
She sat on a bench.
Lorenzo remained quiet.
Then:
“I hate needing help.”
“I know.”
“I hate people reaching for my chair without asking.”
“I know.”
“I hate rooms with one step.”
“Architect. Definitely know.”
He almost smiled.
“And sometimes I hate that I survived differently than I expected.”
Sofia nodded.
That was all.
No inspirational speech.
No:
At least you’re alive.
No:
Everything happens for a reason.
Thank God.
Lorenzo moved beside her.
“Can I kiss you?”
Sofia looked surprised.
Then smiled slightly.
“That was abrupt.”
“I’m bad at gradual.”
“I noticed.”
“Answer.”
She studied him.
“Yes.”
He kissed her.
Slow.
Nothing cinematic happened.
No thunder.
No sudden sensation in his legs.
His body remained exactly his body.
The moment did not need a miracle.
May you like
It was already enough.
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