Vera collapsed onto the bench as the judge adjourned the session to refer the case to federal prosecutors. Outside in the hall, Shane slammed Dominic against the wall, and Brielle sobbed on the floor.
My mother grabbed my arm, begging for help and claiming she didn’t know what she was signing. I peeled her fingers off and told her to enjoy the harvest of the family she had chosen.
Six months later, Dominic was disbarred and facing federal charges for wire fraud and tax evasion. Shane was arrested, and Brielle’s lifestyle collapsed into a series of weekly rentals and debt.
Vera took a plea deal that required her to liquidate every asset she owned, including her home. I moved my headquarters to a high rise in Phoenix, looking out at the desert sun as my company prepared for a public offering.
Harrison joined me on the balcony of the new office, and we watched the city below. The real achievement wasn’t the wealth; it was the ability to walk away from a burning house without looking back.
I had learned that peace is something you take, not something greedy people give you. I stood there with my head held high, finally free from a bloodline that had only ever wanted to consume me.
THE END.
