Chapter 10 Luca #2
"Emilio Rossi is my attorney," I said to every person who spoke to me. "I'm invoking my right to counsel. I won't answer questions without him present."
"Noted." Each one wrote it down.
They put me in a holding cell with three other people. Small, concrete, a bench along one wall. No windows. Fluorescent lights humming overhead.
I sat on the bench and waited.
An hour passed. Maybe two. Hard to tell time with no clock and no phone. The other people in the cell ignored me. I sat and thought about Valentino. About where he was. If they were treating him okay. If he was scared.
Finally a guard came. "Romano. Your lawyer's here."
Relief flooded through me. I stood and they led me to a small interview room. Emilio was already there, looking professional in his suit, his face calm but his eyes sharp with concern.
"Luca." He gestured to the chair. "Sit. We don't have much time before arraignment."
The guard removed my handcuffs and left. I sat across from Emilio and finally let myself breathe.
"How are you?" he asked.
"I'm okay. Where's Valentino? Is he okay?"
"He's being processed at the FBI field office. My colleague Jessica Torres is with him. She's excellent—she'll make sure he's protected." Emilio opened his briefcase. "They're arraigning you both this afternoon. Same judge, same hearing. Bail will be set high but we're prepared for that."
"What are the charges?"
He pulled out papers. "RICO charges for you specifically. Conspiracy for both of you. Obstruction of justice for both of you. They're alleging you ran a criminal organization and that Valentino knowingly protected that organization through his journalism."
"Can they prove it?"
"They think they can. They have surveillance, witness statements, the timeline of Valentino's articles.
It looks bad on paper." He met my eyes. "But we can fight it.
The surveillance doesn't prove coercion continued.
The articles were factually accurate. And Valentino's recent independent work proves he maintained journalistic integrity. "
"What's the worst case?"
"If convicted on all charges? You're looking at ten to fifteen years. Valentino's looking at five to seven." He said it calmly, clinically. "But that's worst case. We're going to fight every charge."
Ten to fifteen years. The number hit me like a physical blow. Valentino facing five to seven.
"What about best case?" My voice was rougher than I'd intended.
"Best case? Charges dropped before trial. More realistic best case? Acquittal on major charges, probation on lesser ones." He leaned forward. "Luca, I need you to understand—this is going to be a long fight. Months of preparation. Months of trial. Your life is going to be consumed by this."
"I understand."
"And Valentino's life will be too. The media coverage will be brutal. Your relationship will be scrutinized. Every choice you've both made will be questioned." He paused. "Are you both prepared for that?"
"We don't have a choice."
"You do have a choice. Valentino could take a deal. Testify against you in exchange for immunity. I'm required to tell you that option exists."
"He won't." I said it with absolute certainty. "He already refused that."
"Then you're both going to trial. Both facing serious charges. Both risking years in prison." Emilio closed his briefcase. "I'll defend you both to the best of my ability. But I need you to be realistic about the risks."
"I'm realistic. And I'm not changing my mind." I met his eyes. "We face this together."
"Then that's what we'll do." He stood. "Arraignment is in an hour. The judge will set bail. I've already arranged for bond. You'll be released this afternoon."
"And Valentino?"
"Jessica has his bail arranged too. You'll both be released today." He paused at the door. "Luca, one more thing. The media is outside. Cameras everywhere. When you leave the courthouse, they're going to shout questions. Don't answer. Don't react. Just keep walking."
"Understood."
He left and the guard came to return me to the holding cell. I sat on the bench and tried to process everything.
Ten to fifteen years.
Valentino facing five to seven.
Months of trial.
Media scrutiny.
Every choice questioned.
But we'd face it together. That's what mattered. Not the charges or the risks or the potential sentences. We'd face it together.
An hour later, they came to get me for arraignment.
The courtroom was smaller than I'd expected. Formal, intimidating, full of people I didn't know. Press in the back. Federal prosecutors at their table. Emilio beside me at the defense table.
And then they brought in Valentino.
He was in handcuffs, being led by two marshals, with a woman in a suit beside him—Jessica, presumably. He looked exhausted and scared but composed. Our eyes met across the courtroom and something in my chest eased slightly.
He was okay. Shaken but okay.
They brought him to the defense table next to me. Close enough to touch if we weren't both handcuffed.
"Are you okay?" I asked quietly.
"I'm okay. You?"
"I'm okay."
"Mr. Romano, Mr. Russo, please refrain from speaking," one of the marshals said.
Then the judge entered and everyone stood. Judge Katherine Morrison, according to the nameplate. Older, stern-looking, no-nonsense.
"Be seated." She looked over her glasses at us. "We're here for the arraignment of Luca Romano and Valentino Russo on multiple federal charges. Let's proceed."
The prosecutor stood and read the charges. RICO conspiracy. Obstruction of justice. Multiple counts. Each one hitting like a hammer. I forced myself to stay calm, to not react.
Beside me, Valentino was doing the same. Both of us just trying to get through this.
"How do the defendants plead?" Judge Morrison asked.
"Not guilty, Your Honor," Emilio said firmly.
"Not guilty, Your Honor," Jessica echoed.
"Noted." The judge made notes. "Let's discuss bail.
Mr. Romano, you're charged with RICO conspiracy, which typically warrants denial of bail due to flight risk and danger to the community.
However, given your ties to the community and lack of prior convictions, I'm inclined to set bail. The question is how much."
The prosecutor stood. "Your Honor, Mr. Romano has significant financial resources and international connections. He's absolutely a flight risk. We request bail be set at ten million dollars."
Ten million. High but manageable. I stayed silent.
Emilio stood. "Your Honor, Mr. Romano has lived in New York for over a decade. He has legitimate business interests here. He's not a flight risk. We request bail be set at one million."
"I'll set it at five million." Judge Morrison's voice was firm. "Cash or bond. Mr. Romano will surrender his passport and submit to electronic monitoring. Any violation of bail conditions and I'll revoke it immediately."
Five million. Manageable.
"Mr. Russo." The judge turned to Valentino. "You're charged with conspiracy and obstruction. Lesser charges but still serious. Bail is set at one million dollars. Same conditions—surrender passport, electronic monitoring."
One million for Valentino. Good. That was manageable too.
"Both defendants are ordered to remain in New York State pending trial. No contact with witnesses. Trial date to be set at a later hearing." She banged her gavel. "Court is adjourned."
They led us out through different doors. I caught Valentino's eye one more time—he looked relieved—and then he was gone.
Emilio walked beside me as the marshals removed my handcuffs. "Bail is being posted now. You'll be released within the hour."
"And Valentino?"
"Jessica is handling his bail. He'll be released soon after you."
They processed my release. Returned my phone and wallet and keys. Had me sign paperwork. Fitted an ankle monitor that felt heavy and humiliating but was better than jail.
Finally, they led me to the courthouse exit.
"Ready?" Emilio asked. "Media circus outside."
"Ready."
He opened the door and immediately I was hit with noise. Cameras flashing. Reporters shouting questions.
"Mr. Romano, are you guilty?"
"Did you coerce Valentino Russo?"
"How do you respond to the charges?"
I kept my head up and didn't answer. Just walked through the crowd with Emilio beside me. Got to the car that was waiting—Sandro's car—and got in.
Sandro was in the driver's seat. Matteo in the passenger seat. Both of them turned to look at me.
"You okay?" Sandro asked.
"I'm okay." I buckled in. "Valentino's still inside. I need to wait for him."
"We'll wait." Sandro pulled the car around to a side street with a view of the courthouse exit. "Take your time."
We sat there for twenty minutes. Then thirty. I kept watching the door, waiting, needing to see him.
Finally, at almost six PM, Valentino emerged.
He looked exhausted. Disheveled. He stood on the courthouse steps blinking in the late afternoon sun like he couldn't quite believe he was free.
Then he saw our car. Saw me through the window.
I got out immediately and crossed to him. We met on the sidewalk and I pulled him into my arms, not caring about the remaining press or the photos they were taking.
"I've got you," I said. "You're okay. I've got you."
He held on to me, shaking slightly. "I was so scared."
"I know. Me too." I pulled back to look at him. "But we made it through day one."
"Day one." He laughed without humor. "How many more days until trial?"
"A lot. But we'll get through them. Together."
Jessica came out behind Valentino. "Mr. Romano. Good to finally meet you in person. I'm Jessica Torres."
"Thank you for taking care of him." I shook her hand.
"Of course. Emilio and I work together frequently." She turned to Valentino. "Remember—no contact with witnesses. Stay in New York State. If you need to leave for any reason, call me first."
"I will. Thank you."
Sandro and Matteo got out of the car. Both of them immediately came over.
"Valentino." Sandro pulled him into a hug. "You okay?"
"I think so. It's all kind of a blur."