Chapter 16 - The Voluntary Surrender|
The room fell completely silent. Evie suddenly found the weave of the window curtains extraordinarily interesting, while Marion quietly slipped out into the hallway to give them privacy.
Lucia looked down at her sleeping daughter. "She isn't a Santoro heir, Nico."
Nico absorbed the hit without flinching. He nodded slowly. "No. She isn't."
"Her name is Isabella Vale," Lucia declared, her tone leaving no room for debate.
Nico’s throat moved visibly as he swallowed hard. "And if she chooses the Santoro name when she grows up?"
"Then it will be her choice," Lucia replied. "Not a blood debt forced on her before she even learns to speak."
Nico’s eyes glistened, though he forced himself not to shed a tear. "Good."
Lucia searched his face, surprised. "You actually mean that."
"I do."
"Why?"
Nico took a slow, painful breath, looking back at the baby. "Because your father was right before he died. Loving you doesn't wash away what I did. And loving her cannot start with an act of ownership."
Lucia felt a sharp ache in her chest. She wished he had learned that lesson years ago. She wished she hadn't been forced to burn her entire life to the ground just to teach him how to be a man.
"What happened with Clara?" Lucia asked, changing the subject.
"She and Sofia are in federal protective housing in Maine," Nico answered smoothly. "She gave a complete, signed statement against Matteo."
"And Matteo?"
"In federal custody without bail. He tried to bargain using the second half of the ledger, but Ben proved to the prosecutors that Matteo never possessed the full key."
Lucia nodded slowly. "And Elena Greco?"
"Negotiating immunity for half the syndicate wives in New England," Nico admitted with a faint, bitter trace of a smile.
"That sounds like Elena," Lucia said. "What about Santoro Holdings?"
Nico reached inside his tailored coat and pulled out a thick document folder, placing it gently on the nightstand beside her bed.
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"I signed the port transfer deeds this morning," Nico said. "Santoro Holdings is relinquishing all commercial rights tied to the Vale family docks. Clean operations are moving directly into your trust. Anything contaminated is being handed over to the receivership."
Evie spun around from the window, snatched the folder, and flipped to the signature page. She blinked in disbelief. "Well. Damn. He actually signed it."
