Chapter 7 - The Cleansing
By dawn, the news swept through Chicago’s underground like a wildfire.
The Romano syndicate had been completely dismantled overnight. Victor Romano and his top lieutenants were handed over to federal prosecutors along with irrefutable evidence of international human trafficking and extortion, ensuring they would spend the rest of their natural lives in federal prison.
Cassian Vane was stripped of every asset, every dollar, and turned over to state authorities for attempted murder and grand larceny.
Alessandro returned to his estate as the morning sun broke over the horizon. The dark, cold mansion that had felt like a fortress of shadows for twenty years suddenly felt different.
He walked up the grand staircase to the main guest wing—not the basement staff quarters, but the sunlit rooms overlooking the rose gardens.
Sophia was sitting in a plush armchair near the window, dressed in a warm woolen sweater, reading a book. She looked healthy, peaceful, and radiant.
Emma was playing on the thick Persian rug with a set of wooden building blocks.
When Alessandro stepped inside, Emma jumped up, running toward him with a wide smile.
"Mr. Boss!" she cheered, holding up a wooden block. "Look! I built a castle!"
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Alessandro laughed—a genuine, warm sound that his staff hadn't heard in decades. He picked Emma up and carried her over to the window.
"It's a very fine castle, Emma," Alessandro said softly. "But you don't need to build one out of blocks anymore. This whole house is yours."
