Chapter 10 - THE TRIAL OF SALVATORE MORETTI
Salvatore’s trial lasted four months.
The courtroom received more security than any organized-crime case in the state’s history.
Prosecutors presented the study footage.
Bruno’s testimony.
Rossi’s medical records.
David’s ledgers.
Marco’s account.
The explosives beneath the estate.
Kiara’s stuffed bear was placed inside a clear evidence box.
Alejandro stared at it from the witness stand.
Salvatore’s attorney asked why the jury should believe a Mafia Don.
“They should not believe me because of my title.”
“They should compare my testimony with the records.”
“Are you blaming Salvatore to reduce your sentence?”
“I am identifying what he ordered.”
“I will answer for what I ordered.”
“Did your uncle force you to kill Lombardi men?”
“No.”
“Then you were responsible for those deaths.”
“Yes.”
The answer prevented the defense from turning guilt into contradiction.
Multiple guilty people could exist inside the same story.
Marco testified next.
He described Salvatore discussing Kiara as an obstacle.
He described the inheritance.
The war.
The final explosives.
Salvatore watched his son with contempt.
“You chose strangers over blood,” he whispered when Marco passed.
Marco stopped.
“No.”
“I chose the people you called strangers after using their lives.”
Mariana testified about David.
The defense revealed his early work moving Covenant money.
Mariana did not deny it.
“My husband committed financial crimes.”
“He later gathered evidence.”
“Loving him does not require me to erase the people he harmed.”
The jury listened.
Emma did not testify in open court.
Her recorded interview was played privately.
She described the broken glass.
The blue lips.
The EpiPen.
The man from the wall.
“He had a silver bottle.”
“He said my mommy would disappear.”
“Did you understand what he meant?” the interviewer asked.
“No.”
“Were you afraid?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you tell?”
“Because the eye saw too.”
Salvatore was convicted of murder, attempted murder, racketeering, terrorism conspiracy, kidnapping conspiracy, and financial crimes.
He received multiple life sentences.
Before being removed, he looked at Alejandro.
“You traded an empire for a maid and her child.”
Alejandro answered quietly.
“No.”
May you like
“You traded children for an empire.”
The guards led Salvatore away.
