Chapter 14 - The Price of Ambition
Later that afternoon,
the media vans departed from the estate gates.
The frantic calls from reporters slowed to a trickle.
I sat across from Gabriel in his private study once more.
The leather ledger was gone,
locked away in a federal evidence locker.
“The prosecutors offered me immunity for my testimony against Marcus,
” Gabriel said,
breaking the silence.
“And what about the rest of the syndicate?” I asked.
“It's being dismantled piece by piece,
” Gabriel replied calmly.
“I'm stepping down as chairman of Caruso Holdings.
I'm handing the legitimate assets over to a public trust,
and I'm retiring from the old business entirely.
”
I looked at him in surprise.
“You're walking away from all of it?”
“An empire built on blood and lies isn't worth keeping,
Elena,
” Gabriel said,
his voice steady.
“Your husband knew that.
It took me too long to realize it.
”
He reached across the mahogany desk and slid a small,
cream-colored envelope toward me.
I raised an eyebrow.
“What is this?”
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