Chapter 11 - NO MORE EMPIRE
Lorenzo woke two days later.
Hunter sat beside him.
Leo slept in a bassinet.
Lorenzo opened his eyes.
"Did I die?"
Hunter looked up.
"Unfortunately, no."
He smiled.
"Leo?"
"Fine."
"My mother?"
"Also fine."
"Marco?"
"Gone."
Lorenzo closed his eyes.
Hunter leaned forward.
"No."
He looked at her.
"No more revenge."
"You don't know what I was going to say."
"Yes, I do."
Hunter touched his hand.
"Find him."
"Stop him."
"But don't burn New York down doing it."
Lorenzo stared at her.
"Why?"
"Because Leo has already lost enough."
That changed everything.
Lorenzo dismantled his own empire.
Not overnight.
Not cleanly.
But deliberately.
Illegal operations closed.
Evidence went to federal investigators through attorneys.
Men loyal to Marco were arrested.
Others ran.
The Rossi name began disappearing from the streets.
For the first time since he was seventeen, Lorenzo chose something other than power.
He chose Leo.
Weeks passed.
Hunter continued feeding Leo until he could safely transition to other milk.
His weight increased.
His cheeks became round.
His crying became thunderous.
One night at three in the morning, Lorenzo stood holding a screaming Leo.
"What does he want?"
Hunter laughed from the doorway.
"You're asking me?"
"You understand him."
"He's your son."
"He speaks some secret baby language."
Hunter took Leo.
He stopped crying instantly.
Lorenzo stared.
"I find that offensive."
Hunter laughed.
The sound caught him.
She noticed him watching.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Stop saying nothing."
Lorenzo stepped closer.
For a second, neither moved.
Then Hunter looked away.
"Don't."
Lorenzo stopped.
"I'm not ready."
His expression softened.
"I know."
"And neither are you."
"I know."
Hunter looked at him.
"Then don't turn grief into love because it hurts less."
Lorenzo absorbed that.
Then nodded.
"I won't."
That was the moment Hunter began trusting him.
May you like
Not because he kissed her.
Because he didn't.
