Chapter 14
Javier moved to Wisconsin alone.
Not into Clara’s hidden rental.
He refused.
Instead, he found a small apartment outside Milwaukee and began working for a commercial construction company owned by someone with no Romano connection.
The first months were humiliating.
Nobody cared who his cousin was.
Nobody stepped aside when he entered a room.
Nobody called him capo.
He had a supervisor twelve years younger than him.
Dante heard about the arguments.
He also heard Javier kept showing up.
That mattered.
Clara remained in Illinois while the separation proceeded.
She entered therapy voluntarily.
Dante did not treat that as redemption.
It was simply something she chose to do after the damage.
At the Romano estate, the old barbecue lawn remained unchanged.
Dante considered redesigning it.
Then decided against it.
Leo and Mia needed the place returned to them, not turned into a monument to what happened.
The following summer, he let them choose the first family event held there.
They chose a birthday party.
No capos discussing business.
No armed conversations beside the grill.
Just children, cousins approved by Dante, staff, food, and entirely too much cake.
Leo ran across the same patch of grass where Javier had pinned him down.
Dante watched from the patio.
Leo did not hesitate.
That felt like victory.
Later, Rachel arrived with an envelope.
Javier had completed every required treatment program ahead of schedule.
His attorney intended to ask the court whether limited indirect contact with Leo and Mia might eventually be considered.
Nothing would happen without professional review.
Nothing would happen without Dante.
And, as the children became old enough, nothing would happen without them.
May you like
Dante folded the letter.
He did not answer that day.
