Chapter 7 - THE ATTACK THAT WAS NEVER MEANT FOR RICO
-7
The official reconstruction took months.
But within days, enough changed.
Ballistics.
Trajectory.
Vehicle positioning.
Vince’s testimony.
Elena’s evidence.
The attack had not been aimed at Rico.
It had been aimed at Elena.
Rico had killed men believing otherwise.
That fact hollowed him.
Some targets were criminals.
Some had attacked Moretti interests before.
But Elena’s death had been used as false justification for escalation.
Salvatore wanted war.
Rico gave it.
He sat at Il Destino after closing.
No staff except Clara and Dante.
“I killed for her.”
Clara said:
“No.”
He looked up.
“You killed because you were angry and believed story.”
He hated.
But truth.
“Don’t make Elena responsible for what you did after.”
That was harder than comfort.
He nodded.
Then:
“What do I do with that?”
“Live differently.”
Simple.
Not easy.
Then Salvatore struck back politically.
Not bullets.
Rumors.
Rico had gone soft.
Rico was compromised by waitress.
Rico was cooperating with authorities.
Rico was unstable after wife death.
Elena had been unfaithful? He spread.
Clara was blackmailer.
Classic.
Within Moretti legitimate holding companies, Salvatore’s allies called emergency board meeting.
They questioned Rico’s fitness.
Exactly Elena predicted.
Rico’s attorney prepared.
Financial audit revealed Salvatore had authorized millions in suspicious related-party transfers over years, not necessarily all criminal but self-dealing.
Independent directors alarmed.
The family business could remove him.
Then Salvatore tried using Leo.
He petitioned family trust court? He could challenge Rico's role as trustee of Leo assets arguing criminal exposure/unfitness. That’s plausible. He sought appointment as co-trust protector due Rico’s alleged instability.
Margaret almost laughed.
“After evidence tying him to Elena’s death?”
Not public yet.
But sealed filings.
Court denied emergency relief and appointed independent temporary monitor instead.
Good.
No Salvatore.
He had counted on old documents.
Elena had anticipated and amended some shortly before death? She couldn't change Rico's trust perhaps, but she left evidence.
Then horrifying detail:
Salvatore had paid a private investigator to document Rico’s post-Elena violent behavior.
He intended use Rico’s own revenge as evidence unfit.
He created grief.
Then recorded grief.
Then used.
Rico saw file.
Photos outside rival clubs.
Meetings.
Police incidents.
He whispered:
“He made me perform.”
Clara:
“He pushed. You chose.”
Again.
No absolution.
Rico appreciated eventually.
Then Leo.
He began speaking more with Clara.
Not instantly normal.
Words.
“Milk.”
“Cee.”
“Papa.”
“No wolf.”
That last one.
Whenever Salvatore image appeared on TV/news or photos, Leo said:
“No wolf.”
Child therapist Dr. Maya Bennett joined.
She emphasized no interrogation.
No leading.
Leo’s statements could matter but must be handled carefully.
Rico was impatient.
Clara stopped him.
“Mama taught us not to force.”
He listened.
Therapy used play.
Leo drew.
Cars.
Rain.
Mama.
A man with ring.
A man with face scar.
Then one day he used dolls.
A woman doll in car.
Child doll back.
Scar man opens door.
Wolf man not in car? He places wolf figure nearby with phone.
Important: maybe Salvatore wasn’t physically at murder. Leo saw ring earlier or perhaps at scene before? Need avoid mistaken. During play Leo says “wolf talk to scar.” Could indicate Salvatore talked to Vince before. Maybe he saw at house before trip.
Dr. Bennett documented but did not treat as definitive.
Then Leo said a new phrase:
“Uncle Sal mad Mama.”
Rico’s blood froze.
“When?”
Therapist stopped him.
“Let him lead.”
Leo acted scene.
Mama in kitchen.
Uncle Sal.
Shouting.
“He said stop.”
“What stop?”
No answer.
Then:
“Mama says Cee.”
Salvatore knew Clara.
He threatened.
Leo heard.
This corroborated Elena.
Then:
“Uncle Sal say Papa weak.”
Rico looked away.
That conversation happened before Elena death.
So child memory strong.
Then legal case built.
Vince's plea/cooperation.
Financial motive.
Threats.
Digital records from Salvatore aides.
One aide eventually cooperated.
He had arranged payment to shooters through intermediaries? We should not detail mechanics. He confirmed Salvatore ordered “remove Elena before she removes Rico.”
The phrase.
Then murder charges prepared.
Salvatore disappeared.
No longer at home.
No phone.
No office.
Rico’s old network could find maybe.
Prosecutors issued warrant.
Rico had choice.
Use crime family to hunt.
Or wait.
Dante asked:
“Want me to?”
Rico stared.
Old answer yes.
Then Leo entered room carrying drawing.
Rico said:
“No.”
Dante understood.
“No hunting.”
“What if he comes for us?”
“Defend.”
Reasonable.
“But we don't become what Elena died trying to escape.”
Dante nodded.
Then security remained.
Legal.
Licensed guards.
No offensive violence.
Clara watched.
For first time, she believed Rico might actually leave old life.
May you like
Not because she could save.
Because he was beginning to choose.
