Chapter 11 - SOPHIA'S LAST LETTER
Sophia's envelope contained no financial records.
No photographs.
No names.
Only a letter.
Lorenzo recognized her handwriting immediately.
He sat alone at his desk for several minutes before opening it.
Hunter waited near the door.
Finally, he spoke.
“Stay.”
She remained.
Lorenzo unfolded the pages.
My love,
If you are reading this, something has gone very wrong.
Lorenzo stopped.
His eyes closed.
Then he continued.
I know what you will want to do.
You will want revenge.
You will tell yourself it is justice because revenge sounds uglier.
Please do not teach our son that fear is the same thing as respect.
Hunter watched Lorenzo’s hand shake.
He read silently for several lines.
Then aloud again.
Dante believes love has weakened you.
He is wrong.
Love is the only thing that might still save you.
Lorenzo lowered the letter.
Hunter looked away to give him privacy.
He continued.
If I die, do not make Leo inherit your enemies.
Give him a name he can be proud of for reasons that have nothing to do with who is afraid of it.
Build something that does not require armed men outside his bedroom.
And please remember that you are allowed to survive me.
Lorenzo could not continue.
He placed the letter on the desk.
For several minutes, the only sound was the ocean outside.
Hunter finally spoke.
“She knew you.”
“Too well.”
“She left instructions.”
“She left a plea.”
“Same thing when it comes from a wife.”
A broken laugh escaped him.
Hunter sat opposite.
“What will you do?”
Lorenzo looked toward Sophia's letter.
“I don’t know.”
“That’s probably the first honest answer you’ve given me.”
He looked at her.
“You're very comfortable insulting armed men.”
“Occupational hazard.”
“I thought your occupation was housekeeper.”
“I've been promoted.”
“To what?”
Hunter considered.
“Professional rule breaker.”
Lorenzo almost smiled.
Nico entered.
His expression immediately killed the moment.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Dante’s lawyers filed emergency documents this morning.”
Lorenzo frowned.
“What documents?”
“If you die or become medically incapacitated, Dante becomes temporary voting proxy over Rossi Holdings until Leo reaches adulthood.”
Hunter stared.
“Who approved that?”
“Your father.”
“Twenty years ago.”
Lorenzo looked toward the sling on his shoulder.
Nico continued.
“Dante didn't just want Leo dead.”
“He needed you unstable or dead too.”
“And if he was arrested?”
“The proxy falls to Elena.”
Lorenzo frowned.
Nico placed another document down.
“Unless Leo dies.”
“Then a portion of Sophia’s trust becomes subject to board redistribution.”
Hunter understood.
“Dante could still control it through people loyal to him.”
“Yes.”
Lorenzo looked disgusted.
“All this for money.”
Nico shook his head.
“Power.”
“Money was just how he counted it.”
Another guard rushed inside.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We have federal agents at the gate.”
Lorenzo looked at Nico.
“Why?”
“They have warrants.”
“For?”
The guard hesitated.
“Financial crimes.”
“Weapons.”
“Racketeering.”
“And conspiracy connected to the Moretti conflict.”
Hunter looked at Lorenzo.
Dante had prepared another move.
If Lorenzo was arrested, Dante could argue incapacity.
If Leo died, everything opened.
Lorenzo stood.
Nico reached for his phone.
“We can move you.”
“No.”
Nico stared.
“Boss?”
Lorenzo looked at Sophia's letter.
Give him a name he can be proud of.
He folded it carefully.
“No more running.”
Hunter studied him.
“Lorenzo.”
He turned.
“If I keep solving every threat the old way, Leo grows up inside the same cage.”
Nico lowered his voice.
“You know what cooperation could cost.”
“Yes.”
“Years.”
“Yes.”
“Everything.”
Lorenzo looked toward the nursery.
“No.”
“Not everything.”
He handed Nico the financial files from Dante's phone.
“Open the gates.”
The federal agents entered ten minutes later.
May you like
Lorenzo Rossi was waiting in the foyer.
Unarmed.
