Chapter 7
A family-court judge granted Lucius temporary primary custody of Willa pending a fuller hearing.
Selene received supervised contact.
Not because Lucius was a Mafia boss.
Despite him being one.
Claire testified about Willa’s treatment after Lucius disappeared.
Estate footage showed Tristan pushing the child into the freezing yard.
Household logs supported the sudden removal of Willa’s nanny and belongings.
Selene’s attorney argued that Lucius’s threat at the party demonstrated volatility.
The judge agreed it was concerning.
Lucius did not argue.
That helped more than denial would have.
When the judge asked whether he believed threatening Selene had been appropriate, Lucius answered:
“No.”
The courtroom went quiet.
His own attorney looked almost surprised.
The temporary order came that afternoon.
Willa stayed with him.
Selene left through another exit.
The legal victory created a new problem.
The Barrone family council wanted Lucius to stop examining the warehouse.
One senior capo called it “old legitimate-business garbage.”
Another warned that reopening settled worker claims could expose the company to lawsuits.
Lucius listened.
Then asked:
“Did somebody know that platform was dangerous?”
Nobody answered.
“That’s what I thought.”
Tristan approached him afterward.
“Leave it alone.”
Lucius stared at him.
“Why?”
“For once in your life, trust me.”
“You threw my daughter into a frozen yard.”
Tristan’s face tightened.
“I was angry.”
“She’s three.”
“I know.”
“No. You know now because there are consequences.”
Tristan looked ashamed for half a second.
Then the defensiveness returned.
“You think I’m your enemy because I wore a pin.”
“I think you signed things you didn’t understand because my wife told you to.”
That landed.
Tristan looked away.
Lucius lowered his voice.
“What did Selene tell you the warehouse sale was for?”
Tristan hesitated.
“To stabilize the family.”
“How?”
“She said the property carried risk.”
“What risk?”
“I don’t know.”
Lucius almost laughed.
“You accepted authority without asking what you were authorizing.”
Tristan’s expression darkened.
“I was trying to keep everything from collapsing.”
May you like
Lucius looked at him.
“That sentence is going to cost you more than you understand.”
