My Billionaire Husband Sent $500K. I Got $300. novel · Chapter 22 of 24

Chapter 22: The Board Meets

Callie's POV

Two weeks later, I went back to the ninth floor in a wheelchair.

The doctor had said yes on one condition: I would not stand up, and I would not shout.

I was thirty-five weeks along, enormous, and so tired that Dee had to hold my coffee.

The room was fuller than it had been the first time.

Every seat was taken, and reporters stood three deep along the wall.

Aldo sat in the front row on the family side.

He had made bail on a Friday, and he wore a fresh gray suit and the gold ring, with two lawyers beside him and a calm, polite face.

He nodded to me when I rolled in.

I did not nod back.

The woman who had cast the dissenting vote sat in the chair's seat now.

"We are here," she said, "to consider the statement of Mr. Dario Corvino, and the status of the license held by his wife. The board will hear from the federal prosecutor first."

The prosecutor in the rumpled coat stood up and put a folder on the lectern.

"Madam Chair, before I begin, I'd like to call a witness who has asked to speak."

Aldo's lawyer half rose.

"Objection, we weren't told."

"He asked this morning," said the prosecutor. "He has signed an agreement. Bring in Rocco Corvino."

The side door opened.

Rocco came in between two marshals, in an orange jumpsuit, with his hands cuffed in front of him.

He had lost weight.

His hair was uncombed, and without the gold watch his wrist looked bare.

He did not look at me, and he did not look at his father.

He walked to the stand and sat down.

"State your name."

"Rocco Corvino."

"Mr. Corvino. Why are you here?"

"Because my father left me in a cell," Rocco said.

The room went still.

Aldo's smile did not move, but his hand tightened on the gold ring.

"Tell the board who gave you the order to keep Mrs. Corvino hungry."

"My father."

"Who told you to hire the men who hurt her in the garage?"

"My father." His voice cracked. "He said she would be easier to deal with once the baby was in a house we controlled. He said I'd get the casino if I stayed quiet and kept the family's name clean."

"Did he say how?"

"He said Dario had taken the fall once, and Dario would take the fall again."

A woman near the front gasped.

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