Chapter 15
Dante’s trial was brutal.
Not because the evidence was weak.
Because the truth had many bones.
Sofia’s letter.
Matteo’s video.
Helena’s testimony.
Enzo’s confession.
Financial records.
Explosive residue from the boat.
New analysis from Sofia’s car wreck.
The prosecutor called it a conspiracy built on inheritance and blood obsession.
I called it murder.
Helena testified first.
She tried to cry prettily.
The jury disliked her.
Good.
But her words mattered.
She described Dante recruiting her.
Training her.
Telling her Leo had to be broken before court would believe he needed “better family management.”
When asked why she hurt a toddler, she said, “I thought Carmine would never choose him over blood.”
I stood up and had to leave.
Luca followed me into the hall.
“Breathe.”
I pressed my hand to the wall.
“She thought wrong.”
“Yes.”
Matteo’s video played next.
Then Sofia’s recording from the cloud account Alessia finally found.
My wife’s voice filled the courtroom.
“Carmine, if you hear this, love Leo louder than they hate him.”
I broke.
Not loudly.
But completely.
Alessia held my hand.
Even Tony wiped his eyes.
Dante stared forward without expression.
That was the final proof of who he was.
A man could hear the voice of the woman he murdered and feel nothing but inconvenience.
The verdict came after two days.
Guilty.
Murder conspiracy.
Attempted kidnapping.
Trust fraud.
Witness intimidation.
Crimes tied to Matteo’s death and Sofia’s crash.
Dante was sentenced to life.
Helena received years in prison for child abuse, conspiracy, and attempted trust fraud.
Enzo took a deal and vanished into federal custody.
The Bellucci family split.
Some called me traitor.
Some called me weak.
Some called me father.
Only one title mattered.
That evening, I took Leo to Sofia’s grave.
I kept the visit simple.
No speeches.
No men.
No black cars.
Just me, my son, and flowers.
Leo placed a small toy car near the stone.
“For Mama,” he said. “Not Helena’s car.”
I laughed through tears.
“She’ll like it.”
He leaned against me.
“Can Mama see I’m clean now?”
My heart cracked.
“Yes, little lion.”
May you like
He smiled.
“Good.”
