Chapter 9 - GIOVANNI SPOKE HIS SON’S NAME
Lily survived.
On the third morning, her inflammatory markers began falling.
Her oxygen requirement decreased.
The neonatologist smiled for the first time in two days.
“She is responding.”
Nora covered her face.
Lorenzo stood beside her.
He had not slept.
Neither had she.
Nora turned and hugged him without thinking.
For a second, Lorenzo did not move.
Then his arms closed around her.
Carefully.
As if she were something breakable.
She wasn't.
But for once, she allowed herself to be held like she might be.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?”
“Staying.”
His arms tightened slightly.
Later that afternoon, Dr. Bellucci called Lorenzo downstairs.
Nora came too.
Giovanni had been working with a speech therapist.
No one expected miracles.
His stroke had caused enormous damage.
But after years of unnecessary sedation ended, small improvements had appeared.
More voluntary hand movement.
Better head control.
Weak vocalizations.
The therapist stood beside Giovanni.
“We've been trying something.”
Lorenzo sat.
“Papa?”
Giovanni looked at him.
His mouth moved.
Air escaped.
Nothing.
He tried again.
A rough sound.
Lorenzo leaned forward.
Giovanni’s face tightened with effort.
“Lo…”
Lorenzo froze.
Nora covered her mouth.
Giovanni breathed.
Then forced the sound again.
“Ren…”
His entire body shook with effort.
“Zo.”
The room went silent.
Lorenzo's eyes filled instantly.
He crouched.
“Papa.”
Giovanni lifted his trembling hand.
Lorenzo took it.
For nearly five years, Giovanni Moretti had been unable to say his son's name.
Now it came out broken.
Barely recognizable.
But it was his.
Lorenzo lowered his head against his father's hand.
Nora quietly turned away.
Some moments did not need witnesses.
Then Giovanni made another sound.
Lorenzo looked up.
“Again?”
Giovanni pointed to the communication board.
The therapist helped.
Slowly, he spelled:
NOT YOUR FAULT.
Lorenzo stared.
Nora felt her throat tighten.
Giovanni repeated the sentence.
NOT YOUR FAULT I SUFFERED.
Lorenzo shook his head.
“I left you there.”
YOU DID NOT KNOW.
“I should have.”
NO.
Giovanni's eyes filled.
I SENT YOU AWAY.
Lorenzo frowned.
“What?”
Giovanni continued.
BEFORE STROKE. I PUSHED YOU MANHATTAN.
Lorenzo stared.
“You told me to take control there.”
TO GET YOU AWAY ANTONIO.
The truth settled over him.
Giovanni had already suspected betrayal.
He had sent Lorenzo out of the estate because he believed the danger was inside the family.
The plan failed.
But not because Lorenzo had abandoned him.
Because Giovanni had intentionally pushed him away.
Lorenzo whispered, “Why didn't you tell me?”
Giovanni almost laughed.
The broken sound barely escaped.
Then he selected letters.
YOU NEVER LISTENED.
Nora covered a smile.
Lorenzo actually laughed through tears.
“That has apparently become a common criticism.”
Giovanni pointed toward Nora.
One finger.
Yes.
Nora laughed.
Later, Giovanni asked to speak with her alone.
Using the board, he spelled:
THANK YOU.
Nora sat beside him.
“You don't owe me anything.”
EVERYTHING.
“No.”
SHE LIVED.
Nora knew he meant Lily.
“Yes.”
YOUR CHILD STRONG.
“She gets it from me.”
Giovanni’s eyes softened.
Then:
LORENZO STUBBORN.
“I noticed.”
GOOD MAN.
Nora looked toward the hallway.
“I know.”
Giovanni studied her.
Then began another sentence.
MY SON CARES FOR YOU.
Nora’s face warmed.
“He barely knows me.”
Giovanni moved two fingers.
No.
“He doesn't?”
No.
Nora frowned.
“You mean he knows me?”
Yes.
“He knows I steal fruit from his kitchen.”
Yes.
“He knows I argue too much.”
Yes.
“He knows I once threw up in his Rolls-Royce after the hospital?”
Giovanni’s eyes seemed amused.
Yes.
“Traitor.”
Giovanni struggled to make another vocal sound.
It resembled laughter.
Then the board:
YOU CARE FOR HIM.
Nora became quiet.
“I don't know.”
Giovanni stared.
Nora sighed.
“Yes.”
One movement.
“But that doesn't mean anything should happen.”
WHY?
She looked at him.
“Because our lives are not the same.”
Giovanni waited.
“He is Lorenzo Moretti.”
YES.
“I was cleaning his floors.”
PAST.
“I have a premature baby.”
FAMILY.
Nora stopped.
The word landed hard.
“Giovanni.”
He pointed again.
FAMILY.
Tears filled her eyes.
“You can't just decide that.”
His finger moved twice.
No.
Then:
YOU DECIDE.
Nora smiled.
“Good answer.”
That evening, Matteo entered the NICU family room carrying a folder.
His expression told Nora immediately this was about Brody.
“Did you find him?”
“Yes.”
She stood.
“Alive?”
Matteo hesitated.
“Yes.”
Nora grabbed the chair.
“Where?”
“Pennsylvania.”
“What?”
“He has been using another name.”
Anger replaced relief.
“He was alive this entire time?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't he contact me?”
Matteo looked toward Lorenzo.
Lorenzo had gone still.
“Because he made a deal.”
Nora's stomach dropped.
“With Bellanti?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Federal investigators.”
Brody had stolen the ledger intentionally.
Not because he was noble.
At first, he wanted to sell it.
Then Bellanti men killed one of his friends while searching for it.
Brody panicked.
He contacted a federal agent.
But he did not trust the agent enough to reveal the location of the original copy.
He hid it in Lily’s music box.
Then disappeared into a temporary witness-protection arrangement.
Nora stared.
“He left me pregnant without one word.”
Matteo nodded.
“He claims Bellanti threatened you.”
“So he protected me by letting me think he ran away?”
“He believed anyone watching you would lose interest if you appeared abandoned.”
Nora laughed bitterly.
“They didn't.”
“No.”
“He knew about the estate job?”
Matteo hesitated.
“Yes.”
Nora went cold.
“He arranged it?”
“Indirectly. He asked someone to leave the advertisement where you would find it.”
Lorenzo's face hardened.
“He intentionally sent her into this house?”
“Because he believed Moretti territory was the one place Bellanti agents couldn't reach.”
Nora almost screamed.
“Except they were already inside!”
“Yes.”
She sat.
Everything she knew about the past six months rearranged itself.
Brody had not simply abandoned her.
That did not make what he did acceptable.
He had manipulated her.
Used her ignorance.
Placed her in what he believed was safety without giving her a choice.
Exactly the thing everyone kept doing.
“He wants to see you,” Matteo said.
Nora looked up.
“No.”
Lorenzo watched her.
“No?”
“Not today.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone thinks secrets become acceptable if the motive is protection.”
She looked at him.
“They don't.”
Lorenzo nodded.
“No.”
“I will see him when I choose.”
“Good.”
Nora looked toward Lily.
“And he will not meet my daughter until I decide whether he deserves to.”
Again Lorenzo nodded.
No command.
No opinion.
Her decision.
Three weeks later, Lily reached four pounds.
Giovanni returned to the estate with a proper nursing staff personally selected by Lorenzo and independent medical oversight.
Mrs. Gable was indicted.
Antonio remained in custody.
Marco Bellanti was still missing.
And just as the Moretti family began believing the worst had passed, Matteo received a message from an unknown number.
A photograph.
Nora leaving the hospital.
Lorenzo beside her.
Underneath were six words:
GIVE ME THE LEDGER OR BOTH DIE.
May you like
Marco Bellanti had stopped hiding.
And this time, he was coming personally.
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