Chapter 26 - The Price of Freedom
Adrien’s own legal reckoning came next.
Cooperation did not erase history.
Rebecca Shaw had been clear from the beginning.
Adrien faced financial charges involving undeclared cash operations, illegal gambling proceeds inherited through Moretti companies, and several obstruction issues tied to his early leadership years.
No murder charge.
No evidence connected him to Bellini’s fabricated killings.
But legitimate consequences remained.
Adrien accepted them.
The plea agreement required a massive financial forfeiture, five years of federal supervision, and eighteen months of home confinement with restricted business authority.
Isabella read the agreement.
“You’re smiling.”
Adrien shrugged.
“I expected prison.”
“So did I.”
He looked offended.
“Supportive wife.”
“Realistic wife.”
The forfeiture hurt.
Several luxury properties were sold.
Private aircraft.
Artwork.
Vehicles.
Cash reserves.
Adrien kept the family home because it had been legally acquired decades earlier and could be separated from criminal proceeds.
Moretti Logistics remained operating under independent oversight.
Employees kept their jobs.
That mattered most.
Frank DeLuca took the hardest step.
He walked into federal court voluntarily.
He disclosed historical financial crimes.
Others followed.
Some received probation.
Some served short sentences.
Two disappeared before authorities could reach them.
Adrien did not chase them.
The old instinct still whispered.
Handle it.
Control it.
Fix everything.
He learned to let some things leave his hands.
Then Isabella went into labor three weeks early.
Adrien was in a compliance meeting when Dante burst through the door.
“Boss.”
Adrien looked up.
Dante corrected himself.
“Adrien.”
“What?”
“Isabella’s at the hospital.”
Adrien stood so fast the chair rolled backward.
“What happened?”
“She’s fine.”
“Fine why?”
“She’s having the baby.”
“Now?”
Dante stared.
“That is generally how labor works.”
Adrien nearly fired him.
Then remembered he technically was not supposed to operate like a mafia boss anymore.
The drive to Northwestern Memorial felt longer than every war Adrien had survived.
He called Isabella.
She answered angrily.
“Where are you?”
“Five minutes away.”
“You said that seven minutes ago.”
“Traffic.”
“Buy the road.”
“I’m not allowed to do that anymore.”
She laughed despite a contraction.
Adrien almost cried hearing it.
When he reached the hospital, Eleanor was already there.
“How?”
“I drove.”
“You don’t drive.”
“I took a car.”
“You got here before me.”
“Because your driver obeys traffic laws now.”
Adrien hated legitimate life.
Fourteen hours later, Isabella held their daughter.
Small.
Red-faced.
Furious.
Perfect.
Adrien stood beside the bed terrified to touch her.
Isabella smiled.
“Pick up your daughter.”
“What if I do it wrong?”
“You’ve held firearms during car crashes.”
“This is different.”
“Yes.”
“She’s tiny.”
“So were you once.”
“I doubt that.”
Isabella laughed.
Finally Adrien lifted the baby.
The world stopped.
His daughter opened dark eyes.
Adrien stared.
Eleanor covered her mouth.
“What’s her name?” she whispered.
Adrien looked at Isabella.
They had argued for months.
Then eventually agreed.
“Lucia Eleanor Moretti.”
Eleanor started crying.
“You used my name?”
“As a middle name,” Isabella said. “Don’t become arrogant.”
Too late.
Eleanor kissed them both.
Later, when the room was quiet, Adrien sat near the window holding Lucia.
He thought of Lorenzo.
Would his father have known what to do with a granddaughter?
Probably spoil her terribly.
Probably teach her poker at five.
Probably lie to Eleanor about it.
Adrien smiled.
Then Lucia wrapped one impossibly small hand around his finger.
He whispered, “You don’t owe this name anything.”
Isabella heard him.
She did not interrupt.
“You don’t owe our history anything.”
Lucia slept.
“You can be whatever you want.”
Adrien looked at his wife.
Isabella’s eyes filled.
“No wars.”
“No secrets,” she added.
“No fear.”
She smiled.
“Some fear. Parents are allowed reasonable fear.”
Adrien laughed softly.
For the first time, the Moretti name existed in his arms without weight.
No territory.
No debt.
No oath.
Just a child.
Outside, Chicago lights stretched toward the lake.
Adrien had spent his life protecting an empire.
May you like
Now he finally understood.
This was the only kingdom he had ever truly wanted.
