Chapter 12
Celeste lost the mansion.
Not ownership.
She never had that.
Role.
She moved to a private apartment she already owned.
No staff authority.
No hosting.
No family dinners unless invited.
No contact with Anna or Mia without Anna’s permission.
That last one enraged her.
“She’s a maid.”
I stared.
There.
Even now.
“Anna is Mia’s mother.”
Celeste looked away.
“You don’t get to rank motherhood beneath your jewelry.”
Silence.
Marco lost his capo pin.
Not family name.
Not money outside Romano.
Operational authority.
He could rebuild a life somewhere else if he wanted.
But not using my routes, guards, meetings, or reputation.
“You’re stripping me.”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“I’m returning you to what is actually yours.”
That frightened him.
Because much of what he called identity had been borrowed from organization.
Thomas became one of three temporary continuity advisers.
Rotating.
No automatic successor.
No bloodline guarantee.
Marco’s legitimate concern survived him.
That was important.
Otherwise future men would learn that the fastest way to kill reform was attaching it to a bad actor.
No.
May you like
We kept the useful question.
Removed the people who poisoned it.
