Chapter 12 - LUCIA LEAVES COSTA HOUSE
Lucia stayed in the hospital three nights.
Baby stable.
No preterm labor.
Bruising worsened before fading.
Her shoulder hurt.
Her right hip hurt when she walked.
Miles ordered follow-up obstetric monitoring.
When discharge came, Lucia did not return to the Costa residence.
She came to my house.
This time I did not ask:
For how long?
What about the marriage?
What will Victor say?
I asked:
“Which room?”
She stared at me.
Then laughed.
“Mine.”
Her old room had become a guest suite years earlier.
We moved her things in.
Not every possession.
Police and lawyers coordinated safe retrieval from the Costa home.
No Morelli men stormed the property.
No suitcases thrown over gates.
No family showdown.
Lucia took:
Clothes.
Pregnancy items.
Personal documents.
Laptop.
Jewelry belonging to her.
Medical files.
The rest could wait.
Then protective order.
Adrian barred from contacting her directly.
Communication through lawyers concerning necessary marital issues.
No access to her medical appointments.
No approaching Morelli residence.
Victor was not included automatically.
Lucia requested no direct contact from him too.
Not a criminal restraining order initially.
A written boundary through counsel.
Victor respected it.
Good.
Then divorce.
Lucia filed.
No dramatic threat.
No waiting for Adrian’s criminal case.
She said:
“I know enough.”
I asked:
“Are you sure?”
The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
Her face changed.
I corrected immediately.
“That sounded like the old version of me.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
She nodded.
Then:
“I’m sure.”
“Then I’m with you.”
No family peace condition.
No business calculation.
May you like
Late.
Still necessary.
