Chapter 7 - THE CLEANING OF THE HOUSE
Ten minutes later, the Moretti estate descended into swift, absolute retribution.
Lorenzo sat in a plush armchair in his master suite, wearing a black silk robe, drinking a glass of warm water.
Beside him stood Marco, his fiercely loyal head of security, who had been summoned upstairs the moment Lorenzo regained his speech.
Victor Moretti lay tied to a heavy wooden chair in the center of the room, his nose bleeding, his hands bound securely with heavy plastic zip-ties. Beside him sat Nurse Vance, sobbing hysterically on her knees.
"Marco," Lorenzo commanded quietly, his voice growing stronger with every passing minute.
"Yes, Don Lorenzo?" Marco replied, his eyes shining with absolute loyalty and relief.
"Seize my brother’s private accounts," Lorenzo ordered coldly, not even looking at Victor. "Lock down the docks, call the six family captains for an emergency council at midnight, and turn Victor over to our security team in the basement."
"Lorenzo! Please! I'm your brother! Blood!" Victor screamed, struggling frantically against the zip-ties as two burly enforcers dragged his chair toward the door. "It was the Genovese family! They forced me!"
"You tried to kill me in my own bed, Victor," Lorenzo said, his dark eyes cold as ice. "You are no brother of mine."
The guards dragged Victor and Nurse Vance out of the room, shutting the heavy oak doors behind them.
The grand room went completely quiet.
Lorenzo turned his head toward the corner sofa where Sarah and Mia were sitting. Sarah was holding a cup of hot tea given to her by Mrs. Gable, while Mia was happily coloring on a notepad Marco had brought her.
Lorenzo stood up slowly, stepping over to the sofa, and knelt down on one knee in front of the child.
"What is your name, little one?" Lorenzo asked softly.
"Mia," she answered brightly, holding up her yellow teddy bear. "This is Barnaby."
Lorenzo smiled—a real, genuine smile that had not touched his face in years. "Hello, Barnaby. Hello, Mia."
He looked up at Sarah, whose eyes were still filled with nervous anxiety.
"Your name is Sarah, yes?" Lorenzo asked.
"Yes, Don Lorenzo," Sarah answered, bowing her head respectfully.
"From this moment on, you are no longer a housekeeper in this house," Lorenzo declared smoothly. "You are the head administrator of my personal estate, with a salary that will ensure your daughter never wants for anything for the rest of her life."
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Sarah gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. "Don Lorenzo... I... I don't know what to say—"
"You don't need to say anything," Lorenzo said gently, reaching out and gently patting Mia’s head. "Your daughter saved my soul when I was trapped in the dark. This family belongs to you now."
