Chapter 10 - A New Horizon
Moretti walked up the wooden steps with cautious steps, keeping his hands visible. He knew as well as anyone that crossing into my territory uninvited was a dangerous gamble, even if I had officially retired.
“Victor,” Moretti said, stopping a few feet away. His face was weathered, lined with the stress of managing a crumbling syndicate that had lost its anchor.
“You shouldn't be here, Anthony,” I said, my voice low and steady. “My daughters are inside. I’m out.”
“I know you’re out, Boss—or, Mr. Russo, I should say,” Moretti replied, holding up the manila envelope. “And I’m not here to pull you back in. But there are things you need to know before you burn the bridge entirely. Vance didn't act alone. He had backers in federal oversight and international shipping who are already trying to sweep in and carve up what’s left of our logistics network.”
I stared at him, cold calculation returning to my mind. “Let them tear each other apart. That’s not my problem anymore.”
“It becomes your problem when they realize you still hold the master encryption keys to the offshore accounts,” Moretti said quietly, stepping closer. “The feds got Vance, but they don't have the digital cold storage. The new players think you’re hiding it here. They’re watching this house, Victor.”
A cold anger flared in my chest, quickly replaced by icy resolve. They thought they could threaten my daughters? They thought they could disrupt the peace I had fought tooth and nail to buy?
“Give me the envelope,” I said.
Moretti handed it over without hesitation. I opened it, scanning the names, the shell corporation listings, and the surveillance logs he had compiled. It was a complete blueprint of the vultures circling my new life.
“What are you going to do?” Moretti asked, watching me closely.
“I’m not going back to the dark,” I said, closing the envelope with a sharp snap. “I’m going to finish this once and for all. Tell the new players that Victor Russo is dead, but if anyone steps foot on these dunes, they’ll find out why the legends were understated.”
Moretti nodded slowly, a grim respect in his eyes. He turned, walked back down the steps, got into his sedan, and drove away into the gathering dusk.
I stood on the porch for a long moment, breathing in the crisp ocean air. Then, I turned the handle and pushed open the heavy oak door.
Inside, the house was warm and bright. The smell of roasted chicken drifted from the kitchen, and the sound of laughter echoed down the hallway. Lucia was sitting at the dining table helping Valentina draw pictures with colorful markers, while Chloe set out plates for dinner.
As I walked into the room, Lucia looked up, her hazel eyes meeting mine. She didn't ask about the man in the car or the envelope in my hand. She just smiled, patting the empty chair beside her.
“Dad, come sit down. Dinner’s almost ready.”
May you like
I walked over, pulled out the chair, and sat down between my daughters. The shadows outside were long, and the world was full of threats, but as I looked around the table at my girls, I knew one thing with absolute certainty:
The war was over. The house was safe. And we were finally home.
