Chapter 5 - The Man Behind Nico's Throne
Nico had spent his entire life believing his father caused Richard Bennett's death.
Now he wasn't sure.
He called his mother.
She agreed to meet us.
We drove to an old church on the north side of Chicago.
It was raining.
His mother stood beneath the awning.
When she saw me, she immediately hugged me.
“I've waited years to meet you properly.”
I stiffened.
“What does that mean?”
She looked at Nico.
“Your father knew about her.”
Nico froze.
“What?”
“He knew Richard had a daughter.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because your father threatened to kill anyone who spoke.”
His mother looked at me.
“Richard discovered Matteo was stealing from the organization.”
I shook my head.
“Matteo?”
She nodded.
“Your father's brother.”
Nico's face changed.
“My uncle?”
“Yes.”
She told us everything.
Matteo had been siphoning money from the Bellini organization.
Richard had discovered him.
Richard threatened to expose him.
Matteo convinced Nico's father that Richard was betraying the family.
They arranged an accident.
But Nico's mother had tried to warn Richard.
She failed.
Richard died.
Then she hid the evidence.
She had waited all these years because she feared Matteo.
I looked at her.
“Why tell us now?”
“Because you're carrying the next generation of this family.”
Her eyes filled.
“I don't want another child growing up surrounded by lies.”
Nico took my hand.
For once, he wasn't trying to protect me by withholding information.
He was letting me stand beside him.
We returned to Chicago.
Nico called a meeting of his inner circle.
Matteo arrived confident.
“You look tired.”
Nico sat at the head of the table.
“I've been busy.”
Matteo smiled.
“Your wife still hiding somewhere?”
Nico's face hardened.
“No.”
Matteo looked surprised.
Then I entered.
Silence filled the room.
I walked to Nico's side.
He reached for my hand.
Matteo stared at us.
“So she came back.”
I answered.
“I came because I chose to.”
Matteo smiled.
“Don't confuse that with safety.”
Nico stood.
“That's enough.”
Matteo laughed.
“You think she makes you stronger?”
“No.”
Nico's voice became cold.
“She reminds me what strength is.”
He placed the ledger on the table.
Matteo's smile disappeared.
The room went silent.
“You're done,” Nico said.
Matteo looked around.
“You would turn against family?”
“You stopped being family when you murdered hers.”
Matteo's face twisted.
“You have no proof.”
I pushed a folder forward.
“We do.”
Inside were bank records.
Photographs.
Recorded conversations.
Transaction histories.
My father's notes.
Everything.
Matteo looked at me.
“You found the ledger.”
“Yes.”
He stood abruptly.
Nico's men surrounded him.
Matteo laughed.
“You think this changes who you are?”
Nico looked at him.
“No.”
He glanced at me.
“She did.”
The police arrived twenty minutes later.
Nico had already sent them everything.
Matteo was arrested.
The organization collapsed quickly after.
Some men fled.
Others cooperated.
Nico turned over evidence.
He shut down the illegal operations.
He sold properties.
He surrendered weapons caches.
He walked away from the empire his father had built.
People called him weak.
Coward.
Traitor.
He didn't care.
The night he finally came home, he stood in our doorway.
The word home had become complicated.
I was still deciding whether our marriage could survive.
He looked at me.
“I signed the papers.”
I looked down.
He handed me the divorce papers.
Signed.
Completely.
“No games,” he said.
“You actually signed.”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because I want you to stay because you love me, not because you can't leave.”
That broke the last wall inside me.
I stepped toward him.
“You're an idiot.”
“I know.”
“You hurt me.”
“I know.”
“You made me feel invisible.”
“I know.”
“And you thought I would never leave.”
“I know.”
I punched his chest.
He didn't move.
Then I punched him again.
Still nothing.
Finally, I collapsed against him.
He wrapped his arms around me.
Neither of us spoke.
I cried.
He held me.
After several minutes, he whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
May you like
It wasn't enough.
But this time, it was real.
