Chapter 11

I moved with Leo into a penthouse apartment in Manhattan.

It was a life of freedom, just for the two of us.

But the air of freedom always carried a familiar scent of sandalwood.

"Mommy, there are flowers at the door again."

Leo peeked out from the windowsill, pointing downstairs.

Every morning, a bouquet of fresh irises and a box of freshly baked Sicilian cannoli would appear at our door.

There was no name, but I knew who it was from.

Alessandro never tried to force his way in, nor did he have me followed. He just kept his distance, watching over us like a shadow.

Then one day, Marco knocked on my door and handed me a thick file.

"Donna," Marco said. "The Don asked me to give you this."

I opened the file. It was the transfer deeds for all of the Santoro family's assets.

The ports, the casinos, the hotels, the arms routes... The beneficiary's name was written as Leo and me.

Besides the assets, there was also an order promulgating new family rules.

Alessandro had purged all the old memb