Chapter 12 - A New Order
A week later, the estate was quiet again.
The dark cloud that Veronica had brought into the house had dissipated entirely.
The Marzano family had gone completely silent, dealing with the internal fallout of their daughter's failure and the sudden freeze on their banking networks caused by Adrian's digital trap.
Adrian sat at the head of the dining table.
The room smelled of lemon polish and fresh bread.
Grace walked in through the service doors, carrying a tray of roasted chicken.
She looked rested. The dark circles under her eyes were gone.
She had chosen to stay, taking the position of Head of Estate Operations.
“Dinner is served, Mr. Moretti,” Grace smiled.
“Thank you, Grace.”
As she began to set the plates, Lily skipped into the room.
She was wearing a new cardigan, buttoned correctly this time.
“Hi, Mr. Moretti!” she chirped.
“Hello, Lily,” Adrian smiled, a genuine expression that was rare for the mafia boss.
Lily reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, soft cloth.
She walked up to Adrian’s place setting.
Instead of the crystal glass with the crescent moon scratch, there was a brand new set of glassware.
Adrian had ordered all the old crystal thrown out.
Lily carefully polished the base of the new water glass.
“No scratches on this one,” she announced proudly.
“I made sure.”
Adrian chuckled, picking up the glass and examining it in the light.
“Perfectly clear. You do excellent work, little moon.”
Lily beamed, running back to her mother.
“Can I help with dessert, Mom?”
“If you wash your hands first,” Grace said, her hand resting affectionately on her daughter's head.
They retreated to the kitchen, leaving Adrian alone at the table.
He looked around the dining room.
For the first time in a very long time, he felt safe in his own home.
The betrayal had stung, but it had rooted out the weakness in his life.
He raised his spotless glass to the empty room.
“To loyalty,” he whispered to himself.
He took a long sip of water, placed the glass gently back down, and began to eat.
May you like
The house was finally his again.
And no one would ever rewrite it.
