Chapter 9 - The Last Dragon
For three months, peace almost looked ordinary.
Mara took the job at Bellagio.
She moved back into her apartment, though she spent so many evenings at Matteo's house that Juniper eventually developed two food bowls and a preferred windowsill there.
Evelyn began therapy.
So did Matteo.
He complained about it every Thursday and never missed an appointment.
Nico learned to crawl.
Then he learned that crawling beneath Matteo's desk during conference calls produced immediate chaos.
The legitimate DeLuca companies survived.
Some shrank.
Some were sold.
A construction firm, two restaurants, and a logistics company remained under new audited management.
Matteo spent more time in boardrooms than back rooms.
Mara teased him that spreadsheets were his new weapons.
He told her spreadsheets had always been dangerous.
Vittorio remained in federal custody awaiting trial.
The murders were still being built into the case.
For the first time, Mara allowed herself to think the worst might be over.
Then Enzo disappeared.
It happened on a Tuesday.
He failed to arrive for a security meeting.
He did not answer his phone.
By noon, Matteo was pacing.
By two, one of Enzo's cars had been found abandoned near the river.
Mara arrived at the estate just as Matteo received a package.
No return address.
Inside was a dragon pin.
Old silver.
Stained dark at one edge.
And a note.
THE CIRCLE DOES NOT DIE WITH ONE MAN.
Matteo's face hardened.
Mara felt the old fear return.
Not Vittorio.
Someone else.
"Who?"
Matteo stared at the pin.
"I don't know."
Evelyn did.
She had entered behind them.
Her face went white.
"Dominic."
Matteo turned.
"Dominic is dead."
"No."
Evelyn shook her head.
"He disappeared after the Bellini fire."
"Dominic Ricci?"
"Vittorio's younger brother."
Matteo frowned.
"My father said he drowned in Florida."
"Your father was told that."
Mara almost laughed at the absurdity.
"Does anyone in this family ever actually die when they're supposed to?"
No one laughed.
Evelyn looked at the pin.
"Dominic designed those."
Matteo pulled out his phone.
"Claire."
Agent Walsh answered.
Within an hour, they knew.
Dominic Ricci had been living under the name Daniel Ross in Arizona for twenty years.
He flew to Chicago two days after Vittorio's arrest.
Mara looked at Matteo.
"Why come back now?"
"Revenge."
Evelyn shook her head.
"No."
They looked at her.
"Control."
She pointed toward the note.
"The Circle does not die with one man."
Matteo understood.
"He thinks he inherited it."
Mara's stomach tightened.
"Then why take Enzo?"
"Because Enzo knows names."
That night, they found the first clue.
Enzo's smartwatch had sent one final location ping before going offline.
An old church on the South Side.
Matteo wanted Mara at the estate.
She refused.
They compromised.
She went to Agent Walsh's mobile command post three blocks away.
"Compromise," Mara said, climbing into the van.
Matteo looked unhappy.
"This is not a compromise."
"It is when I wanted to go inside."
He leaned down.
"Stay here."
"Yes, dad."
His eyes narrowed.
"Never say that again."
She smiled.
"Come back."
The smile left her face.
"Please."
Matteo touched her cheek.
"I will."
The operation lasted twenty-seven minutes.
They were the longest twenty-seven minutes of Mara's life.
Police and federal agents entered from three sides.
No gunfire.
No explosion.
Nothing cinematic.
Just radio calls.
Movement.
Silence.
Then Claire said, "They have Enzo."
Mara's knees almost gave out.
"Alive?"
"Alive."
Five minutes later, Matteo emerged.
Blood on his shirt.
Mara ran.
He opened his arms.
She hit him hard enough to make him step back.
"Whose blood?"
"Enzo's."
"Is he—"
"Alive."
Mara grabbed his face with both hands.
"You?"
"I'm fine."
"Do not say fine unless a doctor says fine."
He almost smiled.
Then his expression changed.
Behind him, agents brought out a man in handcuffs.
Dominic Ricci.
He was older than Vittorio but thinner.
His eyes were cold.
When he saw Mara, he laughed.
"Evelyn's girl."
Matteo moved between them.
Dominic smiled at his back.
"You think this ends because you chose to be good?"
Matteo turned.
"No."
His voice was calm.
"It ends because you no longer get to decide what my name means."
Dominic's smile faded.
Enzo spent four days in the hospital.
Mara visited with Nico.
The baby grabbed Enzo's bandage and tried to eat it.
Enzo said this proved affection.
By spring, the federal case expanded.
Vittorio accepted a plea that guaranteed he would spend the rest of his life in prison.
Dominic followed.
Evidence tied both men directly to the Bellini fire and Thomas Bennett's murder.
For Alessia's death, prosecutors found the missing piece in Luca's testimony.
The guard who had helped take Nico admitted he had sabotaged Alessia's car at Vittorio's order.
Matteo received the news in silence.
Then he went to the garden.
Mara found him beside the stone wall where he had planted white roses for Alessia.
He did not cry at first.
He simply stood there.
"It's over," Mara said.
"No."
He looked at the roses.
"It's proven."
She nodded.
"That's different."
He finally cried.
Mara did not tell him to stop.
She held his hand.
After a while, he said, "I loved her."
"I know."
"I still do."
"I know."
He looked at Mara.
She smiled sadly.
"Love isn't a chair, Matteo. I don't need hers to be empty before I sit beside you."
His face broke.
He pulled her into his arms.
Weeks later, on Nico's first birthday, the house was full of people.
Not captains.
Not armed men whispering in corners.
Children.
Neighbors.
Employees.
Rosa had hired a magician who terrified Juniper and delighted Nico.
Evelyn made a cake that leaned slightly to the left.
Enzo wore a paper crown.
Matteo stood in the doorway watching Mara help Nico smash frosting with both hands.
Rosa nudged him.
"You look ridiculous."
"Thank you."
"You're smiling."
"I do that now."
"So I've noticed."
Matteo walked to Mara.
Nico offered him a handful of cake.
Matteo accepted it with dignity.
Mara laughed.
He looked at her.
"Come outside with me."
"You're covered in frosting."
"So are you."
They stepped onto the terrace.
Spring rain had just ended.
The garden smelled clean.
Matteo reached into his pocket.
Mara froze.
"No."
He stopped.
"No?"
"If that's a ring, put it away."
His eyebrows rose.
"That is not the response I imagined."
"We've been together four months."
"Five."
"That correction is not helping."
He slowly opened his hand.
There was no ring.
There was a key.
Mara blinked.
"What is that?"
"A building."
She stared at him.
"You bought me a building after everyone told you not to buy buildings for me?"
"It's not for you."
"Good answer."
"It's for a foundation."
He handed her a folder.
BENNETT-DELUCA FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER.
Mara stared.
The building would provide legal aid, emergency housing referrals, childcare grants, and counseling for families affected by organized crime and domestic intimidation.
Her father's name was on the dedication page.
Thomas Bennett Memorial Program.
Mara's eyes filled.
"Matteo."
He looked nervous.
The feared mafia boss of Chicago looked nervous.
"I thought maybe we could build something that fixes a fraction of what our families broke."
Mara cried.
Then she kissed him.
Behind the glass door, Enzo held up a sign.
IS THAT A YES?
Mara laughed through tears.
Matteo glared at him.
"No privacy in this house."
Mara looked at the key in her hand.
"No."
May you like
She leaned against him.
"But maybe that's not the worst thing."
