Chapter 7 - The Night Clara Took Back What Belonged to HerThe police arrived before dawn.
Not because Dante had called them.
Because Daniel had sent the evidence directly to federal investigators the moment the attack began.
Every payment.
Every name.
Every account.
Every recording.
The Rosetti empire collapsed within hours.
Enzo was arrested.
Several judges resigned.
Two police commanders disappeared.
Business partners turned state's evidence.
The old system crumbled.
Dante watched from the mansion balcony.
Clara joined him.
“It's over.”
He nodded.
“No.”
She looked at him.
“It's beginning.”
Within weeks, Dante separated the legitimate businesses from the criminal operations.
He testified.
He surrendered assets.
He closed every illegal operation.
People called him a traitor.
Others called him a hero.
He didn't care.
He cared about one thing.
Clara.
And the child growing inside her.
One night, Clara found him sitting alone.
“You haven't slept.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“I keep expecting someone to take this away.”
She sat beside him.
“They won't.”
“You can't promise that.”
“No.”
She took his hand.
“But I can promise I won't run.”
He smiled.
“You said that before.”
“And I meant it.”
Her pregnancy progressed.
Morning sickness became less severe.
Her belly grew.
Dante became absurdly protective.
He read parenting books.
He bought three different cribs.
He argued with Daniel about car seats.
He installed cameras in the nursery.
Clara removed half of them.
“You're ridiculous.”
“Security is necessary.”
“It's a baby.”
“Exactly.”
“She can't be kidnapped before she can crawl.”
Dante looked at her seriously.
“You underestimate my enemies.”
Clara laughed.
“You're impossible.”
One evening, Savannah came to visit.
Their relationship had changed too.
Savannah apologized.
“I was cruel.”
Clara looked at her.
“You were young.”
“So were you.”
“No.”
Clara smiled.
“I just learned earlier that nobody was coming to save me.”
Savannah took her hand.
“I should have.”
Clara squeezed her fingers.
“Then start now.”
They hugged.
The family slowly rebuilt itself.
Arthur moved into a smaller home and began therapy.
He apologized more.
Clara accepted some apologies.
Rejected others.
Dante visited Michael's grave for the first time in years.
Clara went with him.
He stood silently.
“My father should have met you.”
Clara squeezed his hand.
“He would have loved you.”
Dante looked at her.
“He would have loved you first.”
She smiled.
Then his phone rang.
Daniel.
“There’s a problem.”
Dante's expression hardened.
“What?”
“Enzo escaped transport.”
Clara's stomach dropped.
“Where?”
“He left one message.”
Daniel hesitated.
“What?”
“He said he wasn't coming for Dante.”
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Dante looked at Clara.
“He was coming for the baby.”
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