Chapter 18 - MY MOTHER'S NAME

Edward, Salvatore, Miles and Grant were all convicted or pleaded guilty on charges tied to the fraud, cover-up and fight network.

Vanessa received a reduced sentence because of her cooperation but lost access to the family fortune while civil cases moved forward.

The Moretti board told Dominic to protect the family name or open the books. He opened them.

Every suspicious company.

Every shell vendor.

Every old payment.

Mom’s health remained fragile.

But something changed.

A federal victim-compensation fund and civil settlement covered her care.

Dad testified publicly.

The newspapers corrected the record.

DANIEL CARTER CLEARED IN HALCYON STEEL DISASTER.

Mom framed the article.

I didn’t.

I asked the paper to print the names of the three workers who died.

Dad had been wronged, and they had been killed. Both truths mattered.

The delivery company offered my account back. I declined. I no longer wanted to spend nights being invisible at strangers’ doors.

Tessa and I started teaching self-defense twice a week at a community center.

One girl asked, “How do you know when to fight?”

“You fight when you need to get safe.”

“Not when you’re angry?”

“Especially not then.”

After class, Mom waited in the lobby.

She had a folder.

“What’s that?”

“Community college.”

I groaned.

“Avery.”

“Mom.”

“You promised school wasn’t going anywhere.”

I sighed.

She smiled.

“It waited long enough.”

I took the application.

Then my phone buzzed.

Dominic.

DINNER?

I typed back.

ONE HOUR. PUBLIC PLACE. NO BODYGUARDS AT THE TABLE.

YES, MA'AM.

Mom read over my shoulder.

“You like him.”

“I tolerate him.”

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