Chapter 6 - The Choice
Victor Salerno was arrested before sunrise.
The evidence Roman surrendered connected him to extortion, trafficking, attempted murder, and the surveillance of Noah.
But Roman’s decision came with a price.
His own organization began to fracture.
Men who respected fear interpreted mercy as weakness.
Roman knew it.
So did I.
“You should leave Savannah,” I told him three days later.
We stood on the hospital rooftop while Noah slept downstairs.
Roman looked across the city.
“Probably.”
“You could disappear.”
“I could.”
“Will you?”
He shook his head.
“I spent eight years believing I had nothing worth changing for.”
He looked at me.
“Turns out I was wrong.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m dismantling it.”
I stared at him.
“The organization?”
“The criminal side.”
“You can’t just quit.”
“No.”
A humorless smile touched his mouth.
“But I can destroy what I built.”
“And then?”
“Vale Maritime becomes legitimate. The hotels remain. The real estate remains.”
“And the men who don’t agree?”
“They can find another employer.”
I almost smiled.
“You make leaving organized crime sound like restructuring a corporation.”
“That’s because I’m trying not to terrify you.”
“You’re failing.”
His expression softened.
“Claire.”
He stepped closer but didn’t touch me.
“I’m not asking you to come back.”
That surprised me.
“I’m asking for the chance to know my son.”
I studied him.
“And me?”
His eyes held mine.
“I never stopped knowing you.”
My heart betrayed me with one painful beat.
“Eight years is a long time.”
“Yes.”
“We’re different people.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“I know.”
He paused.
“So I’ll earn it.”
No threats.
No demands.
No promises of impossible perfection.
Just four words.
May you like
For Roman Vale, they were enough.
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