Chapter 13
The kidnapping changed things.
For the better.
My father saw that I was strong. That I was capable.
He started giving me more responsibility.
At Moretti & Son.
And in the family business.
Not the criminal parts. Never those.
But the leadership parts.
The respect parts.
The loyalty parts.
People started calling me "The Young Viper."
I didn't mind.
It meant they respected me.
It meant they knew I was my father's son.
But I was also making my own name.
A good name.
A legitimate name.
Moretti & Son was growing.
We were building housing for the poor.
We were funding schools.
We were creating jobs.
We were making the city a better place.
People were starting to forget about the old Vincent "The Viper" Moretti.
They were starting to talk about the Moretti family as benefactors. As community leaders.
As good people.
I was proud of that.
My mother was proud too.
She had started a charity.
She helped women and children who were victims of domestic abuse.
She helped them find safe housing. Jobs. Counseling.
She turned her own pain into something good.
Something beautiful.
Our family was making a difference.
We were changing our legacy.
From violence and fear.
To hope and opportunity.
And it felt good.
One day, my father called me into his study.
He was sitting at his desk.
He looked serious.
"Son," he said. "I have something important to talk to you about."
"What is it, Dad?"
"I'm going to step back," he said. "From the business. From everything. I'm getting older. I'm tired. And I think it's time for you to take over."
I stared at him.
"Take over? But Dad, I'm only sixteen."
My father smiled.
"You're young," he said. "But you're wise beyond your years. You're strong. You're smart. You're a natural leader. And you have good people around you to help you. Marco. Maria. Your mother. Me. I'll still be here. To advise you. To help you. But the day-to-day decisions... those will be yours."
He paused.
"I've spent my whole life building this empire," he said. "And now I want to spend the rest of my life watching you make it something better. Something honorable. Something we can both be proud of."
I looked at my father.
The man who had saved me.
The man who had taught me everything.
The man I loved more than anything.
I nodded.
"Okay, Dad," I said. "I'll do it. I'll make you proud."
My father smiled.
May you like
"You already have, son," he said. "You already have."
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