Chapter 9 - Cleansing the Empire
The shot did not echo. The heavy wool rugs and thick velvet curtains of the estate absorbed the sound, leaving only a faint puff of cordite smoke drifting toward the high ceilings.
Dante lowered the weapon, turning to Henry without looking back at the body.
"Call the district attorney," Dante ordered, his voice steady and clinical. "Deliver Marcus’s encrypted hard drives to their front desk. Every offshore account, every bribe paid to the city inspectors, and every shipping route associated with Antonio Russo. By sunrise, I want the federal government dismantling the Russo syndicate piece by piece."
"And the family, sir?" Henry asked, bowing his head slightly.
"Tell the captains that the Moretti family is closing its accounts in the ports," Dante replied, looking toward the open door of the blue room. "We are liquidating the illicit operations. The legitimate freight companies and the real estate trust will remain. Anyone who wants to continue dealing in narcotics and extortion can join Russo in federal prison."
Henry’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he quickly bowed. "Understood, Mr. Moretti. It shall be done."
Dante holstered his weapon and walked back into the bedroom.
The room was quiet. Anna sat on the bed, holding Sophie in her lap, rocking the little girl back and forth. Sophie had her face buried in Anna's shoulder, but she wasn't crying. She looked up as Dante entered, her big dark eyes wide with curious innocence.
"Mr. Dante?" Sophie whispered, pointing a tiny finger at his jacket. "Your star is crooked."
Dante stopped at the foot of the bed. He looked down at his chest. In the scuffle, the purple paper star had torn slightly, hanging by a thread of adhesive tape.
A rare, genuine smile broke across Dante's scarred face. He sat down on the edge of the bed, reaching out with both hands to gently cup Sophie's small face.
"It is a little crooked, little bird," Dante murmured softly. "Can you fix it for me?"
Sophie squirmed out of Anna's arms and crawled across the duvet on her hands and knees. She carefully straightened the paper star, patting it twice with her palm to make sure it stuck firmly to his wool jacket.
"There," she announced proudly. "Now you won't get hurt anymore."
Dante looked up at Anna. The young woman’s face was streaked with tears, but the paralyzing fear that had haunted her for three years had vanished from her eyes.
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"You don't wear the housekeeping uniform anymore, Anna," Dante said gently. "From this moment on, you and Sophie are Morettis. This house belongs to you. You will never have to run, hide, or be afraid of the dark again."
Anna buried her face in her hands, weeping tears of pure relief as Dante pulled both her and his little niece into a protective embrace.
