Chapter 13 - THE TRIAL
Dante Rossi's trial began four months later.
By then, Leo had doubled his weight.
His cheeks were round.
His cry was loud enough to wake half the third floor.
Everyone loved it.
Nico called it “the most expensive noise in America.”
Hunter called it perfect.
She no longer needed to nurse Leo exclusively.
His digestive system tolerated normal feeding once the contamination stopped.
Gradually, Hunter's milk supply decreased.
The change was emotional.
Her body was finally letting go of a pregnancy her heart had not finished grieving.
On the final night she fed Leo, she sat in the nursery and cried.
Lorenzo found her afterward.
“Last time?”
She nodded.
“He doesn't need me that way anymore.”
Lorenzo sat beside her.
“He needs you.”
“Not like before.”
“No.”
He looked at Leo sleeping.
“But perhaps being needed and being loved are different things.”
Hunter turned toward him.
“Are we talking about Leo?”
Lorenzo looked straight ahead.
“Mostly.”
Hunter felt warmth rise in her face.
Neither pushed further.
They were both still rebuilding.
The trial consumed three weeks.
Celia testified.
Margaret testified.
Dr. Halloran testified.
Elena testified against her own son.
Then Hunter took the stand.
Dante watched her from the defense table.
He looked smaller without tailored suits, guards, and control.
The prosecutor asked Hunter to describe the night she entered the nursery.
She told the truth.
The crying.
The sleeping nurse.
Leo's weakness.
The feeding.
Lorenzo's gun.
A few jurors looked toward Lorenzo.
He sat in the back row.
Hunter continued.
She described the bottle.
The threatening photograph.
Sophia's key.
The boathouse.
Dante’s attorney stood.
“Ms. Higgins, you had been employed by the Rossi family for only three days when these events began.”
“Yes.”
“You were grieving the recent death of your own infant.”
“Yes.”
“Would you agree you were emotionally vulnerable?”
Hunter looked at him.
“I was grieving.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“It’s my answer.”
The attorney walked closer.
“Did your grief cause you to project maternal feelings onto Leo Rossi?”
“Of course.”
The courtroom stirred.
The attorney seemed surprised.
Hunter continued.
“I had just lost a baby.”
“I heard another baby crying.”
“I felt protective.”
“That does not change what was inside the bottle.”
The attorney paused.
“Did Mr. Rossi ever offer you money?”
“Yes.”
“For your silence?”
“No.”
“For what?”
“Medical care.”
“Housing.”
“Security.”
“So you benefited financially.”
Hunter looked toward Lorenzo.
Then back.
“My rent stopped mattering because someone threatened my life after I saved his son.”
“I would have preferred the rent.”
A juror smiled.
The attorney changed direction.
“Isn't it true you've developed a personal relationship with Lorenzo Rossi?”
The courtroom became quiet.
Hunter did not look away.
“Yes.”
Lorenzo's head lifted.
The attorney smiled slightly.
“Romantic?”
Hunter considered.
“No.”
Then she added.
“Not yet.”
Several people coughed.
Nico looked at the ceiling.
Lorenzo's expression was priceless.
The attorney clearly regretted asking.
Hunter stepped down twenty minutes later.
As she passed the defense table, Dante spoke quietly.
“You think you saved him.”
Hunter stopped.
The bailiff moved closer.
Dante continued.
“Lorenzo ruins everything he loves.”
Hunter looked at him.
“No.”
“You did.”
Then she walked away.
The jury deliberated nine hours.
Dante was convicted on conspiracy to murder Sophia Rossi, attempted murder of Leo Rossi, financial crimes, witness intimidation, and related offenses.
He showed no emotion when the verdict was read.
Elena did.
She bowed her head and cried for the son she loved and the man he had chosen to become.
Lorenzo stood beside her.
For one moment, he put a hand on her shoulder.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But compassion.
Hunter saw it.
Sophia had been right.
May you like
Love had not made Lorenzo weak.
It was teaching him how not to become Dante.
