Chapter 19 - THE FAMILY NAME
Reporters called it:
THE MORELLI-COSTA WAR.
I hated that more than I expected.
No war existed.
One man had assaulted his wife.
One father had slapped him.
Two powerful families were arguing around the consequences.
That was enough.
I issued no dramatic statement.
My lawyer recommended one line:
This is a domestic violence and criminal justice matter, not a dispute between businesses or families.
Good.
Victor’s company issued something similar.
That helped.
Then old associates came to me anyway.
Men who thought loyalty meant offering solutions no lawyer would put in writing.
I sent them away.
One said:
“Your father would not let Costa breathe after this.”
I looked at him.
“My father is dead.”
Silence.
Then:
“My daughter is alive.”
That ended it.
No broken windows.
No vanished witnesses.
No threats.
No business sabotage after my lender mistake.
The most difficult thing I did during those months was not revenge.
It was denying everyone else the fantasy that revenge was inevitable.
May you like
Because if violence became inevitable around the Morelli name, Adrian could hide his choices inside our reputation.
I would not give him that refuge.
