Chapter 10
Lucas moved out of the family estate.
Not because I banished him.
Because Theo lived there.
My grandson’s home should not become the place where he had to navigate his father’s guilt every morning.
Lucas accepted it.
Briana did not.
She packed first.
Not Theo’s bag this time.
Her own.
She asked whether the Carbone accounts would cover a hotel.
I laughed.
Not cruelly.
I genuinely thought I misunderstood.
“You sold my grandson to solve your financial problem and your first concern is whether I pay for your suite.”
Her face hardened.
“Lucas is your son.”
“Yes.”
“I’m his wife.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“That is the complete list of facts.”
No automatic subsidy.
No luxury buffer.
Adult choices.
Adult consequences.
She left.
Lucas stayed behind long enough to hand me his family pin.
I did not take it.
He frowned.
“Why?”
“Because this isn’t about pretending you aren’t my son.”
His eyes filled.
“Keep it.”
“You still trust me with it?”
“No.”
Honest.
He flinched.
“Then why?”
“Because symbols do not perform accountability for you.”
He closed his hand around the pin.
“If you want to become a father Theo can trust, do that.”
Pause.
“Taking jewelry off is easier.”
He nodded.
Then left.
Malcolm took possession of Lucas’s failed waterfront venture under the agreement they had made.
I did not rescue it.
That surprised several capos.
Good.
The debt belonged where it started.
What Malcolm did not receive was the eastern harbor.
Or Theo.
Or my endorsement.
May you like
He got an expensive failed restaurant and the satisfaction of learning I would not protect my son from every consequence.
Perhaps that lesson was worth more than the property.
