Chapter 10 - LUCA CAME HOME FROM PRISON AND ASKED WHETHER BROTHERS COULD START OVER AT FIFTY
Luca served four years.
Enough to matter.
Not enough to satisfy everyone.
His cooperation against Aldo reduced exposure.
He forfeited hidden profits.
Paid penalties.
Testified.
Lost nearly everything connected to the conspiracy.
When he was released, he had one suitcase.
No empire.
No secret accounts.
No throne.
I met him outside the facility.
Alone.
He looked older than me now.
Funny.
“Dari.”
“Don’t.”
He smiled.
“Missed you.”
“I enjoyed the quiet.”
He put the suitcase in my car.
“You driving?”
“Yes.”
“With the leg?”
“Get out.”
He laughed.
We drove.
“Where am I staying?”
“Hotel.”
“Your house has twelve bedrooms.”
“Eleven.”
“Giulia converted one into ghost museum.”
He stared.
“Seriously?”
“No.”
“Maybe.”
Luca looked out the window.
“You trust me?”
“No.”
Fair.
“Will you?”
“I don’t know.”
Also fair.
He nodded.
“Good.”
We drove in silence.
Then:
“I hated you.”
I looked at him.
“Still?”
“No.”
“Sometimes.”
“Progress.”
Luca exhaled.
“Father made everything a competition.”
“Yes.”
“You were heir.”
“I was spare.”
“I did not choose that.”
“I know.”
“I know now.”
He looked at his hands.
“When Aldo saved me, I thought he was the first person who chose me over you.”
There it was.
Psychology.
Loyalty.
Wound.
“He used that.”
I said.
“Yes.”
“I let him.”
“Yes.”
He looked at me.
“You going to keep saying yes?”
“When true.”
He laughed.
“I missed you less.”
Good.
Luca began working.
Not for me.
Important.
He joined a marine-repair company through a reentry program connected to no Castellano business.
He hated starting at bottom.
Good.
He rented an apartment.
Small.
He learned grocery prices.
He called me once furious that olive oil cost fifteen dollars.
I laughed for a full minute.
Family rebuilt slowly.
Giulia adored him instantly.
Dangerous.
“Uncle Ghost.”
she called him.
He loved it.
Elena did not trust him.
Good.
He accepted.
One Thanksgiving, Luca arrived early.
I found him in kitchen chopping onions.
“You know how?”
“Prison.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Life skills.”
We cooked.
Elena watched suspiciously.
Giulia stole olives.
Normal.
Then Luca asked:
“Dari.”
“What?”
“Can brothers start over?”
I continued cutting bread.
“No.”
He looked disappointed.
I continued:
“We can start from here.”
He thought.
“Therapy?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Sounds expensive.”
“You stole enough.”
He laughed.
That was our reconciliation.
Not erase.
Not forgive everything.
Start from here.
Meanwhile, Elena and I became serious.
Very serious.
I still had not asked her to move in.
Good.
She had her apartment.
Giulia had school.
I visited.
Her kitchen was small.
I hit my knee on table constantly.
She refused to rearrange.
“Your house has better chairs.”
“Go home.”
I loved it.
Then one night, Giulia asked:
“Are you marrying Mommy?”
I choked on water.
Elena closed her eyes.
“Giulia.”
“What?”
“You kiss.”
I stared at Elena.
She stared at me.
“Children are surveillance devices.”
I said.
“Don’t joke about devices.”
Fair.
Giulia continued:
“If marry, I get bigger room?”
“No.”
Elena said.
“Then don’t.”
I laughed until my ribs hurt.
Later, after Giulia slept, Elena sat across from me.
“Do you want to?”
“Marry you?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
She froze.
I had not planned to say it.
Good.
I continued.
“Not now.”
“Not because Giulia asked.”
“Not because I need someone in the mansion.”
“But yes.”
Elena’s eyes filled.
“I need time.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want to become Camilla.”
“You’re not.”
“I mean…”
She struggled.
“I don’t want my life swallowed by yours.”
I understood.
The old empire swallowed everyone.
Camilla.
Aldo.
Luca.
Doctors.
Staff.
Me.
“Then we build separate doors.”
She smiled.
“That sounds like Enzo.”
“Terrible.”
We discussed everything.
Finances.
Property.
Giulia.
School.
My security.
Her work.
Her right to leave.
My medical needs.
She refused to become caregiver by default.
Good.
We drafted a prenup before engagement.
Romantic.
Necessary.
Her attorney was aggressive.
I respected her.
Elena laughed.
“You like people who argue with you now.”
“No.”
“I tolerate them selectively.”
We signed nothing until both counsel satisfied.
Then, six months later, I proposed.
Not in mansion.
Not with diamonds.
Giulia had ruined diamonds for all of us anyway.
We were at Elena’s apartment.
Pasta on stove.
Giulia doing homework.
I got down on one knee.
Painful.
Stupid.
Elena immediately said:
“Get up before you need an ambulance.”
“Ruining moment.”
“Your cane is three feet away.”
Giulia looked up.
“Is this marriage?”
“Yes.”
I said.
“Finally.”
Elena stared.
“You told her?”
“No.”
“Kids know everything.”
True.
I held out a ring.
Simple.
Not cheap.
Not ridiculous.
“Elena Marchetti.”
“You stayed in my house because you needed a paycheck.”
“You spoke to me because your daughter ignored every instruction you gave her.”
“You challenged me when I wanted obedience.”
“You left when you needed distance.”
“You came back because you chose to.”
I swallowed.
“I spent most of my life being feared.”
“I don’t want fear in whatever we build.”
“I want truth.”
“Even when it insults me.”
“Especially then.”
Elena’s eyes filled.
“Will you marry me?”
She looked at Giulia.
Giulia whispered loudly:
“Say yes.”
Elena laughed through tears.
Then looked at me.
“Yes.”
I exhaled.
Giulia shouted:
“Bigger room!”
“No.”
Elena said.
“Negotiation later.”
I replied.
Elena glared.
“Do not undermine parenting.”
Marriage off to strong start.
I stood with difficulty.
Elena helped only after I nodded.
Permission.
Still.
That mattered.
Luca cried when I told him.
Then denied it.
Enzo said:
“About time.”
Camilla sent flowers.
Beautiful.
No bitterness.
A card:
Choose peace, Dario. It looks better on you than diamonds ever did on me.
I kept it.
Not because I still loved her romantically.
Because some endings deserve respect.
The wedding would happen in spring.
Small.
No captains.
No judges needing favors.
No politicians.
Family.
Friends.
Doctors who actually treated me.
A five-year-old-turned-nine-year-old ghost expert.
And one old retired security chief who still claimed he never worked for me.
May you like
Life had become less impressive.
Far better.
