Chapter 11 - Clearing the Board
In the weeks that followed, Julian’s retaliation against the Moretti syndicate was absolute. He absorbed their territories, dismantled their illegal operations, and stabilized the city’s underworld. He made it violently clear: the Rossi family was untouchable.
Back at the Long Island estate, life began to shift. The heavy, oppressive rules were gone. Clara had thrown away the strict schedules. The house was filled with the smell of baking cookies, the sounds of cartoons, and the messy, beautiful chaos of three growing boys.
Julian found himself leaving work early. He outsourced the most dangerous parts of his business, moving the Rossi empire toward legitimate real estate and shipping. He didn't want to bring blood home anymore.
One evening, he found Clara in Elena’s old greenhouse. She was carefully repotting a bed of white roses.
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“I was cleaning out the old desk in here,” Clara said softly, turning to him with a dusty envelope in her hand. “I found this. It’s addressed to you. From Elena.”
Julian froze. He took the letter, his hands shaking slightly. He broke the seal.
