Chapter 7 - The Woman They Took To Get To The Boy
Marisol woke tied to a chair in a warehouse near the river.
Her wrists hurt.
Her head was bleeding.
Across from her stood Rafael.
"You've caused an impressive amount of trouble."
"Go to hell."
He smiled.
"I have another proposition."
"I don't want anything from you."
"I don't think you understand."
He placed a photograph on the table.
Maddie.
Walking home.
Marisol's face changed.
"You touch my daughter—"
"I haven't."
"Don't."
Rafael leaned closer.
"All I need is Eli."
Marisol stared at him.
"You think Simon will give him to you?"
"I think he will do anything for you."
Marisol went silent.
That was the problem.
Rafael knew.
And Simon had already lost Eli once.
He would not lose Marisol too.
But Simon didn't go to Rafael's location alone.
He called the authorities.
Then he called Tomás.
Then Cordelia.
Then the one person who knew the warehouse.
Vincent.
The rescue happened at midnight.
Lights out.
No gunfire.
No grand entrance.
Simon came through the back.
Tomás came through the east door.
Federal agents surrounded the building.
Rafael realized too late.
He grabbed Marisol and held a gun to her head.
"You should have stayed out of this."
Simon stopped.
"I am staying out of it."
"You're standing right there."
"I'm listening."
"Give me Eli."
"No."
Rafael's gun tightened against Marisol.
"Then she dies."
Marisol looked at Simon.
"Don't."
Simon met her eyes.
"Trust me."
Her lips trembled.
"I do."
Rafael pulled the trigger.
The gun clicked.
Empty.
Vincent had removed the magazine earlier.
The next second, agents rushed in.
Rafael was tackled.
Marisol fell.
Simon caught her.
She grabbed his coat.
"Eli?"
"Safe."
She closed her eyes.
"Thank God."
He held her.
For the first time in front of everyone, Simon kissed her forehead.
"You scared me."
She looked up.
"I thought you weren't scared."
"I was."
"Of losing me?"
"Of never having you."
Marisol's breath caught.
He wanted to say more.
But not there.
Not while she was shaking.
Not while the police were everywhere.
Later, in the hospital, Marisol woke to find Simon asleep in a chair beside her.
She stared at him.
"You stayed."
His eyes opened.
"I told you."
"What?"
"I stay."
She smiled.
"That's dangerous."
"Probably."
"You're supposed to be a frightening mafia boss."
"I've been demoted."
"To what?"
He looked at her.
"Your husband, eventually."
She laughed softly.
"You're crazy."
"Maybe."
She reached for his hand.
He took it.
They sat like that until sunrise.
Across the hall, Eli and Maddie were sleeping.
Safe.
Together.
The court case took months.
Judge Duvall was arrested.
John Barone confessed to forgery.
Rafael admitted involvement in the financial scheme.
Vincent testified.
Tomás testified.
Cordelia testified.
And Simon testified.
For the first time, he told the full story publicly.
He did not defend the past.
He acknowledged it.
He surrendered what had to be surrendered.
The result was not a clean slate.
It was something better.
A future that wasn't built on lies.
Simon gave control of the legal businesses to a legitimate board.
He sold the family properties tied to the criminal network.
He paid restitution where the courts ordered it.
And he created a trust for Eli.
Not because Eli needed money.
Because Simon wanted his brother to have something the family had stolen from him.
Choice.
One afternoon, Eli asked:
"Do I have to live at the mansion?"
Simon smiled.
"No."
"Can I stay with Mom?"
"Yes."
"But you're my brother."
"Yes."
"So can I stay with you too?"
Simon looked at Marisol.
She smiled.
"Looks like you're stuck with him."
Eli grinned.
"Good."
Maddie ran into the room.
"I have a question."
Everyone looked at her.
"Can we paint the whole house red?"
Simon laughed.
"Absolutely not."
"Why?"
"Because it's my house."
Maddie crossed her arms.
"Not anymore."
Marisol covered her mouth.
Eli burst out laughing.
Simon stared at all three of them.
And realized something.
He had once been the most feared man in New Orleans.
May you like
Now a five-year-old was negotiating his interior design.
It was the happiest loss he had ever suffered.
