Chapter 9 - ANNA STOPPED WORKING FOR DOMINIC, AND ONLY THEN DID HE ASK HER TO DINNER
Dominic waited four months.
Gabriel thought that was excessive.
Rebecca thought it was intelligent.
Lily thought it was “slow.”
Anna did not know he was counting.
She started at the rehabilitation center.
The first month nearly broke her.
Phones.
Insurance approvals.
Transportation schedules.
Parents angry because wheelchairs were delayed.
Children tired.
Paperwork impossible.
She loved it.
Not every minute.
Enough.
She enrolled in evening courses in healthcare administration using the center’s tuition program.
No Moretti scholarship.
No billionaire rescue.
Dominic asked once:
“How much tuition?”
She stared.
He corrected.
“Never mind.”
Progress.
They still saw each other because of the investigation and Lily.
Lily liked Dominic.
That had become undeniable.
He did not buy her expensive toys.
After Anna threatened to return the first absurd gift, a custom electric ride-on car, he learned.
Now he brought books.
Once a puzzle.
One dinosaur.
Lily said dinosaurs were “baby.”
She was five now.
He apologized formally.
She forgave.
Victor’s criminal case moved toward plea.
Elliot Crane pleaded guilty to records falsification, conspiracy, and financial crimes.
He admitted he knew restarting medication created serious risk.
He claimed Victor pressured.
He still chose.
Evelyn pleaded to payroll theft, vendor fraud, forgery-related conduct, and obstruction.
Her sentence included custody/home confinement? Court decided; she served a short custodial term and restitution, given cooperation. Michael Crane faced fraud charges for sham invoices.
No one vanished.
No one was found in river.
Dominic insisted his people stay away.
Victor eventually entered plea to homicide-related reckless conduct, obstruction, financial conspiracy, and witness intimidation after prosecutors proved he knowingly ordered medication restart despite bleeding risk, then falsified records and threatened Samuel.
The exact sentence was effectively life for a man in his seventies.
At sentencing, Dominic spoke.
So did Anna.
She almost declined.
Then realized Samuel’s story deserved one clean sentence from someone alive.
She stood.
“Victor Moretti did not kill my father physically.”
“He did something else.”
“He taught him that loving his daughter meant disappearing from her.”
“I lived fifteen years with that absence.”
She looked at Victor.
“You made fear feel like a reasonable substitute for truth.”
Then:
“You also made sure I entered your nephew’s home already trained to stay quiet.”
“I am not quiet now.”
Done.
Dominic said:
“My father died because you believed his body was acceptable collateral for control.”
“You then raised me to believe control was love.”
“I am responsible for what I did with that lesson.”
“But I will not pass it on.”
Victor stared.
No forgiveness.
No vengeance.
Court imposed sentence.
Afterward Dominic did not celebrate.
He went to Anthony’s grave.
For first time in years, alone.
He told his father:
“You were right.”
Then:
“I hate that too.”
He stayed an hour.
When he returned, Anna had texted:
Lily wants to know if you still remember her school play Saturday.
He smiled.
Yes.
Then:
Can I ask you something unrelated to Lily?
Anna stared at message.
Depends.
Dinner.
She waited five minutes just to irritate.
Are you asking as former employer, current criminal defendant, mafia boss, or man who owns too many restaurants?
He replied:
Former employer. Current compliance nightmare. Former mafia boss according to headlines. Man.
She smiled.
One dinner. Somewhere you do not own.
You choose.
Anna chose a small diner in White Plains.
He arrived on time.
No security inside.
Gabriel sat in car somewhere because Dominic still had threats tied to old life.
Anna accepted discreetly.
They ate burgers.
Dominic looked uncomfortable without private table.
Good.
Anna asked:
“Are you still dangerous?”
He looked.
“Yes.”
Honest.
“What does that mean?”
“I still know people who would hurt someone if I asked.”
“Would you ask?”
“I’m trying to build a life where answer stays no.”
“Trying.”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever order someone killed?”
Dominic’s face changed.
“No.”
“Did you ever order violence?”
“Yes.”
“People hurt?”
“Yes.”
“Do you regret because you got caught?”
“I wasn’t caught for most.”
That answer mattered.
“I regret because I understand better what fear does when powerful person makes it normal.”
Anna studied.
“Do you expect me to forgive your past because you fixed a ramp?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“I expect nothing.”
“That sounds rehearsed.”
“It is.”
She laughed.
Then he asked:
“Why did you say yes?”
“Dinner?”
“Yes.”
Anna thought.
“Because you let police take Evelyn.”
“You let board process Victor.”
“You stopped hiding your own books when investigation found your problems.”
“You let me quit.”
“That should be normal.”
“Yes.”
“It wasn’t normal in your life.”
She looked down.
“And because Lily likes you.”
Dominic’s mouth shifted.
“And?”
“And I like you.”
He went still.
Anna rolled eyes.
“You are terrible at receiving direct information.”
“I am adjusting.”
Then:
“I like you too.”
“Poetic.”
He smiled.
They dated.
Slow.
Anna insisted.
Dominic learned to ask before sending cars.
Before making reservations.
Before involving himself with Lily’s medical appointments.
He once called a specialist without asking.
Anna found out.
Huge fight.
He apologized.
Cancelled.
No excuses.
Lily watched part.
Later asked:
“Are you mad?”
Anna said:
“Yes.”
“Do you still like Dominic?”
“Yes.”
Lily considered.
“Both?”
“Yes.”
Good lesson.
Dominic and Anna did not tell Lily they were dating for three months.
Then Lily caught them holding hands at zoo.
She stared.
“Why?”
Anna laughed.
“What?”
“You hold.”
Dominic said:
“We like each other.”
Lily frowned at him.
“Like married?”
“No.”
“Like kissing?”
Dominic almost choked.
Anna said:
“Sometimes.”
Lily made disgusted face.
Good.
Then:
“Are you my dad?”
Dominic’s chest tightened.
“No.”
“Could be?”
Anna intervened.
“No promises.”
Lily nodded.
Then ran toward penguins.
Children ask.
Adults panic.
Life continues.
A year later, Dominic sold the Moretti estate.
Not because Anna asked.
Because he hated what house represented and because maintaining a fortress no longer matched life he wanted.
The kitchen threshold had already been removed.
Before sale, Lily visited.
She stood where scratch marks once crossed marble.
“Gone.”
“Yes,” Dominic said.
“Good.”
“Do you miss?”
“The scratches?”
“No.”
She looked at him like question stupid.
“It hurt.”
Exactly.
Not every scar needed preservation.
Evidence had been photographed.
Records kept.
May you like
The floor could change.
People too.
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