Chapter 9 - The Reckoning and the Restruct
The aftermath of the Maritime Gala was swift, absolute, and restructured the landscape of Chicago forever.
Dominic Vance and his small group of loyalists were completely dismantled within forty-eight hours. Salvatore didn't have them killed—he didn't need to. With the full backing of the city's political structure, who were deeply moved and impressed by the revelation at the gala, Salvatore turned over evidence of Dominic’s illegal embezzlement schemes to the federal prosecutors. Dominic was arrested at O'Hare airport trying to flee to Brazil and was sentenced to twenty years in federal prison.
Brett vanished from Chicago entirely, unable to find employment even as a dishwasher after news of his involvement in the gala ambush leaked across the hospitality industry.
As for the Marquetti Syndicate, it underwent a historic transformation.
Salvatore officially went public with his hearing loss. He hired a full-time staff of certified ASL interpreters for his corporate operations. He launched the Marquetti Foundation for Deaf Education and Accessibility, committing fifty million dollars to fund sign language programs, medical research, and technology initiatives across the Midwest.
Leo was named the honorary student ambassador for the foundation's new technical wing.
Three months after the gala, the grand opening of the Vance-Marquetti Center for the Deaf was held in downtown Chicago.
I stood in the sunlit foyer of the new building, watching Leo laugh and sign rapidly with a group of young students who were touring the facility. For the first time in his life, my little brother didn't look tired. He didn't look defensive. He looked whole.
"He's happy," a deep voice signed beside me.
I turned. Salvatore was standing beside me in a sharp navy suit, looking relaxed, radiant, and impossibly handsome.
[WE ALL ARE,] I signed back, leaning my head against his arm.
Salvatore slid his arm around my waist, pulling me close. [I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU.]
May you like
[ANOTHER ONE?] I teased. [YOU ALREADY BOUGHT MY BROTHER A BUILDING.]
[NOT A BUILDING,] he signed, his eyes twinkling with that soft amber fire I loved so much. [SOMETHING SMALLER. BUT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT.]
