Chapter 13
Renato eventually decided to cooperate.
His attorney made the recommendation after the forensic review identified falsified documents and financial representations that could not be explained as ordinary family planning.
Renato provided emails.
Vendor instructions.
Draft schedules.
Messages from Lucille.
He admitted diverting the support structure away from Elena.
He admitted canceling visits.
He admitted helping create records that would make her look unstable.
He also admitted something more personal.
“I liked being needed.”
Matteo sat across from him.
Renato continued.
“You were distracted. Elena was gone. Lucille called me for everything.”
“You were already a senior capo.”
“That wasn’t the same.”
“What did you want?”
Renato looked at him.
“Your trust.”
“You had it.”
“No.”
Renato gave a bitter smile.
“I had assignments. I wanted to be the person the family couldn’t run without.”
Matteo understood.
It did not excuse anything.
Renato had spent years standing beside a more powerful cousin.
Lucille offered him a role at the center.
He took it.
Matteo asked one final question.
“When you saw Emma with the bread, what were you thinking?”
Renato closed his eyes.
“That Lucille would see her.”
“Not that she was hungry?”
Silence.
That was the answer.
Renato had become so invested in preserving the story that the child herself had become evidence to manage.
His cooperation later reduced his legal exposure.
It did not save his Bellandi position.
Matteo permanently removed him from family operations.
The capo pin never returned.
Lucille had the same opportunity.
Correct the financial record.
Acknowledge the plan.
Return control of remaining support funds.
Cooperate with investigators.
Her attorney recommended it.
Lucille refused.
“I will not apologize for trying to keep my granddaughter in her family.”
Matteo looked at her.
“Emma is not the family estate.”
Lucille’s expression hardened.
May you like
“You sound like Elena.”
For the first time, Matteo did not hear that as an insult.
