Chapter 6 - Cleaning HouseBy sunset, the internal cancer that had been eating away at the Moretti syndicate for three years was completely excised.
Dominic’s co-conspirators—the capos and corrupt managers who had agreed to help him seize power—were rounded up within hours. Given the choice between standing trial for federal racketeering or quietly surrendering their shares of the syndicate back to Adrian and taking early, permanent retirement in South America, every single one of them chose the airport.
Adrian sat alone in his executive office on the forty-fourth floor.
The sprawling room was quiet, bathed in the amber glow of city lights twinkling against the evening sky. For the first time in years, there was no stack of unread reports mocking his exhaustion. There was no racing heart, no trembling hands, no crushing weight of impending collapse.
The books were balanced. The empire was secure.
The heavy oak door clicked open softly.
Adrian looked up, expecting Salvatore. Instead, Salvatore stepped aside, revealing Elena and Lily walking into the office.
Lily was wearing her yellow lion pajamas under a puffy pink jacket, hugging her battered gray rabbit tight against her chest. She rubbed her eyes sleepily, looking around the massive, intimidating office with wide, innocent eyes.
Adrian stood up immediately, walking around the desk. All the cold, ruthless armor he wore as a mob boss melted away in an instant. He knelt down on one knee so he was eye-level with the little girl.
“Hello, Lily,” he said softly, a genuine, warm smile breaking across his face.
Lily blinked, tilting her head. “Are you still a lion?”
“No,” Adrian chuckled quietly, gently taking her small hand. “The lion finally woke up. And he’s not angry anymore.”
Elena stood nearby, watching with a mixture of awe and relief, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Mr. Moretti… Salvatore told us what happened. Thank you. For everything.”
“No, Elena,” Adrian corrected, looking up at her. “Thank you. And thank her.” He gently stroked the top of Lily’s head.
Lily yawned, leaning forward and resting her forehead against Adrian’s shoulder, her sleepy weight comforting and real.
May you like
“You smell like tea,” she mumbled softly against his lapel.
Adrian closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of baby shampoo and cotton, feeling a profound, absolute peace settle deep into his bones.
