Chapter 18 - Salvatore's Last Lie
Salvatore blamed Malcolm Sterling.
Carlo had been followed.
Malcolm had tried to stop him from reaching federal investigators.
A dangerous maneuver caused the crash.
Salvatore ordered the scene abandoned and the records removed.
Adrian listened without interrupting.
Then Salvatore made the mistake he always made.
He tried to turn everything into family.
"I protected you."
"You protected control."
"Same thing."
"No."
Salvatore leaned forward.
"You think that girl will stay when she understands what your name costs?"
Adrian's voice stayed calm.
"That's her decision."
Salvatore reached beneath the table.
Agents moved instantly.
He pulled out no gun.
Just Carlo's old watch.
"Your father gave me this before the ambulance came."
Adrian stared at it.
Salvatore placed it on the table.
"He told me to fix it."
"And you didn't."
For the first time, Salvatore looked old.
"No."
Federal agents arrested him on financial conspiracy, obstruction, fraud, and other charges supported by the archive.
The highway case remained under separate investigation.
Adrian did not ask for the watch immediately.
He sat there after Salvatore was taken away.
Then he picked it up.
When he returned to Washington, I met him at Mom's residence.
Just Adrian standing in a hallway with an old watch in his palm.
Mom hugged him before I did.
He looked shocked.
"Carlo would've hated what they became," she said.
"I know."
"So don't become it trying to clean up his name."
He looked at me.
"Everyone keeps telling me that."
"Maybe you're difficult."
He smiled.
Then Dr. Rice entered with Mom's latest scans.
The treatment was working.
Not a miracle.
Not a cure.
Progress.
For the first time in months, that word was enough.
Then Adrian's phone buzzed.
The Moretti board had voted.
Salvatore's proxy was suspended.
Control of the legal companies moved temporarily to an independent committee.
May you like
Adrian had won nothing.
And he looked relieved.
