She had never seen him that way.
Salvatore's voice broke.
“He was the better brother.”
“Then why didn't you protect him?”
Salvatore began crying.
“Because I was afraid.”
She swallowed.
“So was he.”
The old man nodded.
Nora looked down at the photograph.
After a long silence, she said:
“I can't forgive you for him.”
“I understand.”
“But I can let you tell me about him.”
The old man's eyes filled again.
And for the first time in thirty years, Salvatore Gallo began speaking honestly about his brother.
Chapter 9
The investigation into Vincenzo Carbone moved quickly.
Financial records connected his companies to suspicious transfers.
Paul's testimony provided additional evidence.
Pietro's ledger revealed transactions dating back decades.
But Vincenzo remained powerful.
He denied everything.
Then he invited Dante to a private meeting at one of his warehouses.
Dante refused.
Instead, he gave the invitation to investigators.
A controlled operation was arranged.
Nora was not involved.
Dante insisted she remain somewhere safe.
She agreed.
But that evening, someone knocked on her apartment door.
A woman stood outside.
Mid-fifties.
Dark hair.
Nervous eyes.
“My name is Teresa Carbone.”
Nora froze.
“Vincenzo's wife?”
The woman nodded.
“I need to talk to you.”
Nora hesitated.
Then called Vivian Mercer, the attorney assisting the investigation.
They met Teresa at a police station.
There, Teresa revealed that she'd spent years collecting evidence against her husband.
She knew about the financial crimes.
The intimidation.
And Elena Rossi's death.
“You knew my mother?”
Teresa nodded.
“She came to me for help.”
Nora's throat tightened.
Teresa began crying.
“I was too afraid.”
Another person who had been afraid.
Another silence.
Another life destroyed.
Teresa reached across the table.
“But I'm not afraid anymore.”
She handed investigators a storage drive.
Inside were financial records, communications, and documents connecting Vincenzo to multiple crimes.
Including the sabotage of Elena's car.
For the first time, Nora had evidence.
Not just suspicion.
And Vincenzo Carbone's empire began to collapse.
Chapter 10
Vincenzo was arrested six weeks later.
The charges included racketeering, financial fraud, witness intimidation, and conspiracy connected to several violent crimes.