Chapter 188 *
Three days later, the knock came at Miranda's door at nine in the morning.
She had spent those three days in the apartment alone. Sal had left the night of their fight and hadn't come back. Her phone had rung twice. Both times it was debt collectors. She hadn't answered.
She opened the door expecting another process server.
Lorenzo stood in the hallway. Two men she didn't recognize stood behind him.
"Miranda Kestrel." Lorenzo's voice was formal. Professional. "I'm here on behalf of the Commission."
Her stomach dropped.
"The Commission has reviewed the evidence submitted regarding the kidnapping of Scarlett Romano in 2006." Lorenzo pulled a folded document from his jacket. "The contracted killers you hired through Owen's Eastern European connections have been neutralized. The detective you paid to close the investigation has provided a full statement."
He handed her the document.
"Salvatore Romano has been stripped of his position as Don of the Romano family. He no longer has the protection of the Five Families. Neither do you."
Miranda's hands started shaking. She looked down at the document but the words wouldn't focus.
"What does that mean?" Her voice came out thin.
"It means every debt you've accumulated over the past thirty years just came due." Lorenzo's voice stayed even. "Every person who was afraid of the Romano name doesn't have to be afraid anymore. Every favor you called in using family connections. Every deal you made under family protection. All of it is open now."
"Lorenzo." She tried to keep her voice steady. "I've known you since you were born. I was there when—"
"I don't care." He cut her off without heat. "I'm not here as someone who knows you. I'm here as the representative of the Commission delivering a formal ruling."
He gestured to the two men behind him.
"Salvatore Romano has already been notified. He's no longer in the city. I'd recommend you make similar arrangements."
"Where am I supposed to go?" The question came out before she could stop it.
"That's not my problem." Lorenzo turned to leave, then stopped. "Viviana's attorney has filed civil asset recovery proceedings. Every property transferred to your name during Sal's marriage will be subject to seizure. The apartment lease is being contested. You should plan to vacate within thirty days."
He walked away.
The two men stayed in the hallway until she closed the door.
Miranda stood in her living room and looked around at the furniture she'd picked out, the art she'd chosen, the space she'd built over years.
None of it was hers.
It had never been hers.
She sat down on the couch and pulled out her phone.
There was one message waiting. Unknown number.
Owen asked me to reach out. I have something that might help. Cash and travel documents. No questions asked. Delete this message after reading.
She stared at the text for a long time.
She typed back: When and where?
The response came immediately: Tonight. 11pm. Address attached.
— — — — — —
Scarlett was sitting on the couch in Damon's office when Lorenzo called.
"It's done." Lorenzo's voice came through the speaker. "Commission ruling delivered. Sal's already out of the city. Miranda's still at the apartment but she won't be for long."
"Good." Damon leaned back in his chair. "What about Zelda?"
"She left the apartment three days ago. Haven't been able to track her since. She's not using credit cards. Probably sleeping in her car if she still has one."
Scarlett listened without speaking.
"Miranda got the message," Lorenzo continued. "She responded. Meeting's set for tonight."
"Axel's ready?" Damon asked.
"He's ready."
Damon hung up and looked at Scarlett.
She was quiet for a moment. Then she spoke.
"The passport you're sending her. Where does it go?"
"Honduras. A Central America country." Damon pulled up a map on his tablet. "Small town on the coast. Wolfe territory. The local operators owe me favors going back fifteen years."
"What happens when she lands?"
"She'll be met at the airport. Told there's a car waiting. The car will take her to a hotel that doesn't exist." He zoomed in on the map. "She'll figure it out eventually. By then her cash will be gone and her passport will be worthless."
Scarlett looked at the map.
"She won't have anything," she said.
"That's the idea."
"Good." Scarlett's voice was quiet. "Don't leave her a single dollar."
"What about Sal?" Her voice stayed even.
"He lost Commission protection. He lost family territory. But he's still alive." Damon came to stand beside her. "In our world, that's already a verdict."
"Can you make it so no one on the East Coast will work with him?"
"Already done. Every door he could walk through just closed."
Scarlett was quiet for a long time.
"Let him go," she said finally. "Don't hunt him. Don't corner him. Let him live with what's left."
Damon looked at her.
"That's more mercy than he deserves."
"I know." She turned to face him. "But he's still my biological father. That name has to mean something, even if it's just this. I let him keep his life. That's all he gets from me."
"And if he comes after you later?"
"Then it's not my decision anymore." She met his eyes. "It's yours."
Damon pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.
"Deal."
Ten days later, Lorenzo walked into the Romano estate as the recognized Don of the family.
The capos were already assembled in the conference room. The same room where everything had fallen apart. Lorenzo had chosen it deliberately.