Chapter 9 - The Final Shadow
Every empire has a final ember that must be stamped out before the fire is truly gone.
In late October, while the leaves were turning brilliant shades of gold and red around the estate, Roman received a call from a secure federal facility in upstate New York. Enzo Bellandi, who had been serving a life sentence under maximum security for his financial crimes, was dying of terminal liver failure.
"He’s asking for you, Roman," Gabriel said, standing by the library door. "The doctors say he has less than forty-eight hours. He says he won't sign his final statement for the federal prosecutors until he sees you face-to-face."
Roman looked up from the book he was reading to Noah. The boy had fallen asleep against his side, his small hand holding onto Roman’s thumb even in sleep.
Roman gently disengaged his hand, kissing Noah’s forehead, and stood up. "Prepare the car."
The prison hospital room smelled of antiseptic and decay. Enzo Bellandi lay in the metal bed, his body frail, his skin yellowed, the massive diamond ring long gone from his hand. He looked like a man who had already been forgotten by the world he tried so hard to conquer.
Roman walked in alone, his heavy coat open, his expression completely unreadable. He stood by the foot of the bed, his presence filling the sterile room.
"You came," Enzo croaked, his breathing shallow.
"I came to see the end of the man who sold my son’s childhood," Roman said flatly.
Enzo let out a weak, wet cough that sounded like dry leaves. "I wanted... I wanted the name, Roman. The Valente name... it carried so much weight. When you 'died,' I thought it was my turn to be king. But the chair... it was always cold. The capos didn't respect me. They just feared what I would do to their families. I spent five years looking over my shoulder, waiting for your ghost to come back."
Enzo reached out, his trembling hand pushing a sealed manila envelope toward Roman.
"What is this?" Roman asked.
"The private account codes... for the trust fund I hid from the capos," Enzo whispered, his eyes filling with a genuine, desperate regret. "It’s ten million dollars. Legitimate funds from the commercial real estate projects. I couldn't transfer it to Grace back then because the Morettis were watching every move I made... and then I got greedy. I kept it. But it belongs to the boy. Take it. Let me die knowing I didn't completely ruin the bloodline."
Roman looked at the envelope, then at the dying man. He realized that holding onto hatred for Enzo was a waste of the peace he had fought so hard to build.
"The money will go to the foundation, Enzo," Roman said, taking the envelope. "It will build a school in the neighborhood where my son had to sell flowers."
May you like
Enzo nodded slowly, his eyes closing as the tension finally left his chest. "Thank you... Roman."
Roman turned and walked out of the room, leaving the last shadow of his past behind him in the quiet hospital ward.
