Chapter 10 - THE MORETTI LEGACY
Four years later.
The autumn leaves were turning brilliant shades of crimson and gold across the hills of the Wisconsin ranch.
It was the boys' eighth birthday.
A massive wooden table had been set up on the back lawn, covered in balloons, presents, a massive chocolate cake, and plates of Elena’s famous yellow rice.
The backyard was filled with laughter and noise. Local kids from the nearby town had been invited, along with their parents—normal, honest people who knew me simply as Alejandro, the quiet rancher who donated generously to the local school music program.
Mateo, Leo, Nico, and Lucas were gathered around the table, wearing party hats, their identical faces bright with excitement as Elena lit the eight candles on the cake.
I stood near the porch rail, watching them with a quiet, contented smile.
Beside me, framed on the wall of the wooden porch for everyone to see, hung two photographs side by side.
The first was the old, border-creased photograph that tiny Mateo had pulled from his backpack five years ago—Sofia standing in the sunlit garden, holding her babies, with those five words written across the bottom: KEEP THEM SAFE FROM ALEJANDRO.
The second photograph was brand new, taken just last week.
It showed all four boys standing in the same garden, laughing and throwing autumn leaves into the air, while I stood behind them with my arms wide, holding them close under the clear blue sky.
And across the bottom margin of the new photograph, I had written five new words in dark, permanent ink:
THEY ARE SAFE WITH ME.
"Daddy! Come on! It's time to blow out the candles!" Leo shouted across the lawn, waving his arms wildly.
"Coming, Leo!" I called back.
I stepped off the porch, feeling the soft, cool grass beneath my boots, and walked toward the bright light of the birthday table.
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The mob king of Chicago was gone, buried under the ash of a past that could never touch us again.
In his place stood a father, surrounded by his four mirrors, enjoying the simple, beautiful music of a family that had finally come home.
