Chapter 15 - THE TRIAL
Vittorio Bellucci’s trial began eight months later.
The courthouse was surrounded by reporters.
His return from the dead had become national news.
Prosecutors presented financial records.
Recorded conversations.
Sofia’s files.
Helena’s testimony.
Ada’s testimony.
Marco’s recordings from the warehouse.
The defense tried to paint Carmine as the real criminal.
That was expected.
Carmine did not pretend to be innocent.
When called to testify, he answered carefully.
“Yes.”
“I have done things I regret.”
“Yes.”
“I benefited from a family structure that used fear.”
“No.”
“That does not excuse what Vittorio did.”
The defense attorney approached.
“Mr. Bellucci, are you asking this jury to believe that you suddenly became an honest man?”
Carmine looked toward the jury.
“No.”
“I’m asking them to believe evidence.”
The courtroom went silent.
The attorney tried again.
“You threatened people for decades.”
“Yes.”
“You participated in violent disputes.”
“Yes.”
“You protected criminal associates.”
“Yes.”
The attorney smiled.
“So why should anyone trust you?”
Carmine looked at Vittorio.
“Don’t.”
“Trust the recordings.”
Vittorio’s expression darkened.
The prosecution later played the warehouse audio.
Vittorio’s own voice admitted Sofia had become “inconvenient.”
He admitted arranging the boat.
He admitted targeting Leo’s trust.
No amount of cross-examination could erase that.
Helena testified on the fifth day.
Carmine did not attend.
He stayed home with Leo.
That surprised reporters.
It also surprised Marco.
“You don’t want to hear what she says?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Carmine looked at Leo building a tower of blocks.
“I already know what she did.”
Carmine had spent most of his life appearing everywhere power gathered.
Now he understood another kind of power.
Choosing where not to be.
Three weeks later, the jury returned.
Guilty.
Conspiracy.
Kidnapping.
Financial crimes.
Obstruction.
Charges connected to Sofia’s death.
Vittorio remained expressionless as the verdicts were read.
Then he looked toward Carmine.
Carmine was present that day.
Their eyes met.
Vittorio mouthed two words.
You lost.
Carmine almost smiled.
Maybe Vittorio believed the empire was the victory.
The money.
The name.
The fear.
Carmine looked toward the door.
Marco waited outside with Leo.
Carmine stood.
He walked past Vittorio without speaking.
Outside, Leo ran toward him.
“Daddy!”
Carmine lifted him.
Leo wrapped his arms around his neck.
Carmine looked back toward the courthouse.
May you like
Vittorio had been wrong.
Carmine had finally learned what winning looked like.
