Chapter 14
Anthony accepted for thirty days.
No longer.
His first order was uncomfortable.
Lorenzo would remain away from operational decisions during review.
His second:
No retaliatory action against anyone who voted for suspension.
Several capos looked toward Lorenzo.
He stood near the doorway.
Without the signet ring.
Anthony’s eyes met his.
“You understand?”
Lorenzo’s jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
That word cost him.
Anthony knew.
Marcus was handed over to outside counsel and authorities handling the financial and coercion matters.
The private criminal world could no longer contain what he had done without compromising legitimate businesses.
His agreement with Ramires became evidence against him.
Ramires immediately denied involvement.
Of course.
Evelyn cooperated.
Not out of nobility.
Because Marcus had betrayed her and because the evidence left little room.
Her foundation network was dismantled and rebuilt under independent trustees.
Support continued.
Her personal influence did not.
That punishment hurt her more than money.
People no longer had to call Evelyn for help.
Gratitude stopped arriving.
So did obedience.
Three weeks into Lorenzo’s suspension, Dominic visited him at the estate.
Leo played several yards away with a toy boat.
Dominic remained standing.
Lorenzo sat beside the pool.
“You resigned.”
“Yes.”
“Anthony gave it back.”
“I refused.”
Lorenzo looked up.
“Why?”
Dominic’s hand tightened around his wedding ring.
“Because I spent years deciding what truths you could handle.”
Lorenzo said nothing.
Dominic continued.
“That isn't advice.”
His eyes dropped.
“That is control.”
The irony was not lost on either man.
Dominic had feared Lorenzo becoming too powerful while quietly manipulating him for years.
Lorenzo finally asked:
“Did you ever think I was unfit?”
Dominic breathed in slowly.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“After the school incident.”
Lorenzo looked away.
A security breach at Leo’s preschool had led Lorenzo to have the administrator fired through donor pressure.
The man had made a mistake.
Not a malicious one.
Dominic had warned him.
Lorenzo ignored it.
His breathing slowed.
“You should have told me harder.”
Dominic’s eyes lifted.
“I did.”
The answer stung.
Lorenzo remembered.
He simply had not listened.
Then Leo ran toward them holding something blue.
A cupcake.
Lorenzo’s body tensed before he could stop it.
Leo noticed.
“Daddy?”
Lorenzo looked at the frosting.
Blue.
Same color.
Different day.
Dominic saw his face.
Leo held it out.
“I saved you one.”
Lorenzo accepted it.
His fingers trembled slightly.
Then Leo asked:
“Is Aunt Evelyn coming to my real birthday dinner?”
Lorenzo’s throat tightened.
The pool party had been an early donor celebration.
Leo’s actual birthday was still six days away.
Lorenzo had completely forgotten.
May you like
Power, betrayal, votes—
and his son was still waiting for his birthday.
