Chapter 9 - Auditing the Past
Three weeks later, the Moretti estate felt completely different.
The heavy, oppressive cloud of paranoia that had hung over the halls for over a year had vanished along with Dante and his co-conspirators. The staff moved through the rooms with smiles, and the terrifying whispers about the boss had been replaced by a quiet, steady respect.
I was no longer wearing an estate maintenance uniform. Instead, I sat at a large mahogany desk in the west wing office—which had been officially converted into the syndicate’s new financial compliance and auditing division.
My first official act as head auditor?
Checking the plumbing accounts.
The heavy oak door swung open without a knock, and Vincent walked in, wearing a tailored charcoal suit with his jacket slung casually over one shoulder. He dropped a thick stack of invoices onto my desk.
“What’s this?” I asked, looking up from my laptop over my black-rimmed reading glasses.
“ Vanguard Logistics settlement,” Vincent said, leaning against the edge of the desk and smirking down at me. “Your brother’s debt has been fully cleared through his audit work in Wisconsin. He’s booked a flight to Miami this afternoon to start a legitimate accounting firm.”
I let out a long breath of pure relief. “Thank God. No more card games?”
“I had Marco personally break his favorite deck of cards and buy him a subscription to Financial Times instead,” Vincent replied deadpan. “He’ll live a long, boring, law-abiding life.”
I smiled, standing up from my chair and stepping right into the space between his arms as he wrapped them around my waist.
“You know,” I murmured, resting my hands against the lapels of his suit jacket, “for a ruthless mafia boss, you’re remarkably soft-hearted.”
“Don't let the other capos hear you say that,” Vincent warned, though his dark eyes danced with amusement. “It ruins my reputation.”
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“Your reputation can handle a little truth.”
Vincent leaned down, resting his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my cheek. “My reputation doesn't matter anymore, Elena. The only thing that matters is keeping you right here, where you belong.”
