Chapter 10

The Commission held an emergency hearing after the warehouse raid.

The full red room recording and the warehouse audio played before every family representative.

They heard Vincent explain that he wanted the public wedding to protect investor confidence. He planned to keep me in charge of the casinos while he used Bianca for the Falcone alliance.

Sophia admitted that she expected me to help raise Bianca's future child.

Marco testified that Vincent's closest men had known the plan. He also admitted that they mocked me while I waited in my wedding dress.

The Russo family's public honor collapsed in one afternoon.

The Commission suspended Vincent's authority as Don. It froze assets connected to the illegal arms payment. Falcone and Bianca faced federal charges for gun trafficking, kidnapping, fraud, and conspiracy.

Vincent attended the hearing in a wheelchair. His wound had not healed.

He watched me through the entire recording.

In the past, any injury to him had pulled me back to his side. He still expected some part of the old Elena to run toward him.

I passed his chair after the hearing and kept walking.

The bullet at the warehouse had saved my life once. It could not repay ten years of disrespect.

I recovered only the Caruso money from the Russo companies. I refused control of the remaining casinos.

"I do not need his ruins to prove that I won."

After leaving the hospital, Vincent filed an emergency civil claim. He accused Luca of coercing me into marriage so the Morettis could interfere with Russo assets. He asked the court to block the business agreements connected to our marriage.

At the hearing, Vincent presented ten years of photographs, messages, and the video from his proposal.

"These records prove that she belonged with me," he told the judge.

The judge asked whether I had loved Vincent.

"I loved him for ten years."

A small amount of hope returned to Vincent's face.

I finished my answer before Vincent could speak.

"That history does not give him permanent ownership of me."

Luca told the court that he would cooperate with a divorce and release every business agreement if I wanted to leave him.

The judge turned to me.

"Did Luca Moretti pressure you to marry him or sign any agreement?"

"He gave me several chances to leave. I signed everything by choice."

"Do you want to end the marriage now?"

I looked at Luca.

From the first morning in the law office to the warehouse raid, he had offered choices instead of orders.

"I want to remain married to Luca Moretti."

The judge rejected Vincent's claim and confirmed that the agreements had been signed voluntarily.

Vincent sat at the other table and lowered his head.

He had lost the last excuse he could use to reach for me.