Chapter 18 - The Sentence
Vittorio’s sentencing filled three courtrooms with reporters.
Rico attended.
Clara did not.
Neither did Leo.
That was deliberate.
Paul Gallo received a separate sentence under his cooperation agreement.
Vittorio stood before the judge and admitted directing the effort to stop Elena from exposing Harbor Meridian.
He admitted ordering Paul to prevent her from reaching Rico.
He claimed he never intended the situation to end in death.
Rico did not care about the wording.
Intent had become a place everyone hid after damage was done.
When offered the chance to speak, Rico stood.
He did not threaten Vittorio.
That disappointed half the reporters.
He said:
“My wife believed our family could become better than what built it.”
“You called that betrayal.”
Rico’s voice remained steady.
“It was the most loyal thing anyone ever did for us.”
Outside court, cameras shouted questions.
At home, Leo was making pancakes with Clara.
One was shaped like New Jersey.
Rico walked into the kitchen.
“Daddy!”
“Done?”
“For today.”
That was the only honest answer.
The next morning Rico signed papers shutting Harbor Meridian permanently.
Hundreds of legitimate workers were transferred where possible.
Old contracts were surrendered to investigators.
Vittorio’s loyalists called Rico weak.
Carmela apologized to Clara one afternoon.
“For calling you the waitress.”
“I was a waitress.”
“You were more than that.”
“I was still a waitress.”
Status had caused enough blindness in that family.
Then remembered Elena’s video.
The guard stayed across the street.
Clara enrolled in evening classes.
She kept the carriage-house apartment.
Then, one rainy night, Rico came to her door.
“I need to ask you something.”
Clara leaned against the frame.
“If this is about Leo—”
“It isn’t.”
The most feared man in Brooklyn looked nervous.
“I’d like to take you to dinner.”
“You own a restaurant.”
“I know.”
“That seems like cheating.”
“Then anywhere I don’t own.”
“One dinner.”
“Okay.”
Then Clara held up one finger.
“And if you send a driver—”
“I won’t.”
“Good.”
Rico started down the steps.
“Rico?”
He turned.
“Wear normal shoes.”
He looked offended.
“These are normal.”
May you like
“They cost more than my semester.”
For the first time in years, Rico Moretti laughed without guilt.
