Chapter 6 - THE BROTHER MATTEO CHOSE TO EXPOSE
Adrian DeLuca’s trial began eighteen months after Camryn entered the penthouse.
The prosecution separated the charges carefully.
Financial fraud involving Verona Relief.
Evidence tampering.
Witness intimidation.
Conspiracy connected to Emilia’s vehicle.
Homicide related charges based on the unsafe release, tracking, threats, and concealment.
Adrian’s defense argued that the crash was an accident made worse by negligent maintenance.
They said Thomas Greer signed false records to protect himself.
They claimed Emilia’s recording referred only to financial disputes.
They described Camryn as a desperate relative seeking access to DeLuca money.
Camryn testified without hiding her debts.
“Yes, my mother was sick.”
“Yes, I needed work.”
“No, Matteo did not pay me to enter the home.”
“Why use the name Jenkins?” Adrian’s attorney asked.
“It was my legal surname.”
“Why not announce you were Emilia’s sister?”
“Because someone using Mr. Adrian DeLuca’s authority had already threatened me.”
“You cannot prove he ordered that visit.”
“No.”
Camryn looked toward the jury.
“I can only tell you what happened.”
That honesty mattered.
She did not inflate suspicion into certainty.
Thomas testified about the vehicle.
Digital experts authenticated Adrian’s service instructions and deleted messages.
The driver described reporting Emilia’s departure.
The jury heard Adrian say:
Then let her learn why she should not leave without permission.
Matteo testified under the terms of his own plea agreement.
Adrian stared at him from the defense table.
“Did you order your brother to release Emilia’s car?” the prosecutor asked.
“No.”
“Did you authorize the false inspection report?”
“No.”
“Did Adrian have authority to make routine vehicle decisions?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I trusted him.”
“Why did employees fear refusing him?”
Matteo paused.
“Because they believed refusing Adrian meant refusing me.”
“Was that belief reasonable?”
“Yes.”
“Did your organization use intimidation?”
“Yes.”
“Did you personally approve acts of intimidation?”
“Yes.”
Adrian’s attorney approached.
“You are blaming your brother to reduce your own sentence.”
“My agreement requires truthful cooperation.”
“You built the DeLuca organization.”
“Yes.”
“You benefited from fear.”
“Yes.”
“You ignored your wife’s concerns.”
“Yes.”
The attorney hesitated.
Matteo was not defending his reputation.
That left little to attack.
“Is it possible Emilia’s death was simply an accident?”
“It is possible.”
“Yet you want this jury to convict your brother.”
Matteo looked at Adrian.
“I want the jury to decide based on evidence.”
“Do you hate him?”
“Yes.”
The courtroom became still.
“But hatred does not prove what he did.”
The jury convicted Adrian of financial fraud, evidence tampering, intimidation, conspiracy, and homicide based on the combined evidence that he knowingly released the dangerous vehicle while using it to prevent Emilia’s departure, then concealed the risk afterward.
He was acquitted of one enhanced charge requiring proof that he specifically intended the exact explosion that occurred.
The jury found criminal responsibility without pretending every detail had been planned.
At sentencing, Adrian looked toward Matteo.
“You chose strangers over blood.”
Matteo answered through his statement.
“No. I chose the son you were willing to leave motherless.”
Adrian received a lengthy prison sentence, restitution obligations, and forfeiture of assets connected to Verona Relief.
Matteo’s own case ended months later.
He received a substantial federal sentence for the criminal operations he admitted controlling.
His cooperation reduced the term.
Fatherhood did not erase his crimes.
Before surrendering, he spent one final supervised afternoon with Leo in the penthouse.
The apartment had been sold as part of the lawful asset settlement.
Furniture stood beneath white covers.
Leo carried the wooden train he once threw at Camryn.
Matteo knelt.
“I am going away.”
Leo’s eyes widened.
“Leave?”
“Yes.”
“Bad?”
Matteo closed his eyes for one second.
“I did bad things.”
“Come back?”
“I hope so. But I cannot promise when.”
Leo pressed the train into his father’s hand.
Matteo returned it.
“You keep it.”
Leo touched Matteo’s face.
Then he tapped his father’s shoulder three times.
Matteo’s composure broke.
He pulled his son close.
Not forever.
Not without consequence.
May you like
Only for the time the court had given them.
Continue to the next part: Years later, Leo must decide whether Matteo’s return earns him a place in the life Camryn helped rebuild.
