Chapter 6 - Judgment at the Romano Estate
The gates of the Romano mansion were locked tight when our convoy returned, but our lead vehicle didn't bother using the keycard. We smashed through the wrought-iron gates, the heavy metal squealing in protest as we rolled up the winding driveway toward the illuminated estate. Inside the grand manor, the guests from the dinner had long since fled, terrified of the impending war between mother and son. Only the inner circle remained, armed and uncertain, gathered in the grand foyer beneath the imported Italian frescoes.
Donna Sophia stood by the marble fireplace, dressed in a traveling coat, two heavy leather suitcases packed with bearer bonds and family heirlooms resting at her feet. Surrounding her were four veteran lieutenants—men who had served my late father and still held loyalty to the old matriarch.
When the heavy oak double doors flew open, the room fell dead silent.
I walked in first, drenched in rain, my tactical vest still fastened, followed by Marco and six heavily armed soldiers. Behind me walked Clara, holding Bella in one arm and Bianca in the other, both little girls wrapped in dry, warm cashmere blankets.
Donna Sophia took one look at the two infants, and the color drained completely from her lips. ""Lorenzo...""
""Drop the bags,"" I commanded, stepping forward.
The four older lieutenants shifted uncomfortably, their hands resting on their holstered weapons. One of them, Uncle Silvio, stepped between me and my mother. ""Lorenzo, show respect to your mother. She built this empire alongside your father while you were still in diapers. Family matters should be handled behind closed doors, without foreign blood standing in the room.""
I didn't blink. ""Silvio, you've known me my whole life. Tell me: does the Romano code allow the kidnapping of my blood? Does it allow an innocent child to be sold to Swiss traffickers because an old woman feared losing her grip on power?""
Silvio blinked, looking between me and the identical infants in Clara's arms. He looked at Donna Sophia, whose eyes were darting frantically toward the back exit.
""Sophia,"" Silvio’s voice cracked with deep sorrow. ""Tell me you didn't do this. Tell me this is a lie.""
Donna Sophia sneered, dropping all pretense of maternal grace. Her voice rose into a shrill, hysterical screech. ""I did what had to be done! He was becoming soft! He was running this family like a business instead of a syndicate! A boy Don needs a male heir to project fear! When the surrogate popped out two worthless little girls, I knew the Morettis would carve us to pieces! I took the stronger one to keep the succession clear, and I sent the weaker one away! I saved this family!""
""You didn't save this family,"" I said, stepping past Silvio, who lowered his head and stepped aside in utter shame. ""You poisoned it.""
Bella pointed at her grandmother, her tiny voice cutting through the heavy tension. ""Gramma bad! No touch Daddy!""
""You ungrateful little brat!"" Donna Sophia lunged forward in a manic fury, raising her hand toward Bella.
Before her palm could travel six inches, my hand clamped around her wrist like a steel vice. I didn't squeeze hard enough to break the bone, but the absolute, merciless pressure forced her instantly to her knees.
""You will never lay a hand on my daughters again,"" I whispered, leaning down so only she could hear the razor edge of my voice. ""You stripped their mother of their first eighteen months of life. You condemned an innocent girl to poverty and tears. And you brought disgrace upon the Romano name.""
""What are you going to do?"" she wept, the reality of her defeat finally crashing over her. ""Kill your own mother?""
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""Death is too clean for what you did,"" I replied coldly, releasing her wrist. ""Marco! Strip her of all family assets, seize her passports, and escort her to the secluded villa in Sicily. She will remain on that island under twenty-four-hour armed guard. No internet, no phones, no visitors. She will live the rest of her miserable days completely cut off from the world she tried to control.""
Two guards stepped forward, hauling the screaming former matriarch toward the back doors. As her desperate cries faded into the distance, a strange, overwhelming peace settled over the grand estate.
