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Chapter 8

作者: candy
Luca arrived before I did.

“Have you had your dressing changed today?”

He reached for my arm. I moved out of his reach.

Sera was sitting on his other side.

She smiled at me.

“You're still hurt. Don't overdo it. Once we clear this up tonight, you can get some rest.”

I stayed standing.

“I don't remember this being my seat.”

Luca's fingers tightened on the back of the chair.

“Just sit beside me.”

Salvatore glanced up at us. He had been settling blood debts before Luca was born. The two other elders sat on either side of him, their wine untouched.

He tapped the table, and a man by the wall pulled out the chair at the far end.

I went over, sat down, and placed my bag beside me.

Luca's capos came in behind Carlo. Their men stayed outside. I could see the bulges beneath their coats through the frosted glass.

This was a private room behind a shuttered supper club. No minutes would be kept. Whatever the elders decided would travel by word of mouth, and men would carry it out.

The Morettis' seats at the head of the table remained empty.

Sera glanced impatiently at her phone.

“My father's always on time. Where is he?”

Salvatore offered no answer. He laid Luca's signed promise beside his wineglass.

“Before Don Moretti arrives, I want to hear it from her. Eve. Did you burn that shipment?”

“No.”

Sera's smile vanished.

Luca looked up.

I set my own folder on the table.

“I didn't set the fire. I tried to shut the warehouse. Anthony has told you who ordered it reopened. Ask Luca why his name is beneath hers.”

Carlo looked at Luca. One of the capos stopped turning his glass.

Luca pushed back his chair and came toward me.

“Let's talk outside.”

“We can talk here.”

“Eve.”

He lowered his voice.

“The car's outside. I'll take you home when this is over.”

He reached for the back of my chair. I shifted away and unfolded the page bearing his signature.

“First, tell them who you agreed to hand over.”

His hand froze on the chair.

Salvatore placed his palm over Luca's written promise and looked up.

“Let her speak for herself, Luca.”

Sera set her wineglass down hard.

“We promised blood money, and now she thinks she can walk away?”

“I never agreed to any of it.”

“Luca gave his word.”

“He isn't me.”

She turned to him.

“You said you'd deal with her.”

The room fell silent.

Luca's face darkened. “Shut up, Sera.”

I took out the declaration he'd signed, severing my ties to the family, and laid it over the terms of surrender.

“Three days ago, you signed a declaration stating that I no longer had any ties to the Vito family.”

I pointed to my name beneath his promise.

“Now you've promised them my life. What gives you the right to buy your chair with it, Luca?”

He reached for the declaration. I held down one corner.

“Eve, you know why I did that.”

“I know you signed both of these. I agreed to neither.”

Sera shoved her glass aside.

“Luca, you promised she'd confess tonight!”

I turned to her.

“Then take it up with him.”

Footsteps sounded outside. Sera was already getting to her feet.

“Dad.”

My father entered with my mother beside him.

Rinaldi followed with two men I had never seen leave my father's side.

Sera went to meet him. As she reached out, he stopped.

“Sit down.”

She froze.

Luca straightened his cuffs and stepped forward.

“Don Moretti. This can still be settled without touching our alliance.”

My father looked at me, seated at the far end of the table, then at the promise in front of me.

“Shut up.”

My mother walked past Luca and came straight to me.

“Come, Eve.”

I picked up my bag and stood.

Luca followed her and reached for my arm. At gatherings like this, I used to look for him first. I never felt safe until I was standing beside him.

I stepped away from his hand and took my mother's.

“Careful. Don't hurt your hand.” Luca's voice followed us.

He started to follow us, then stopped beside my empty chair.

My mother led me to the head of the table. My father personally pulled out the chair beside his.

Sera stood motionless, the color slowly draining from her face.

“Mom, what are you doing?”

My mother looked at her.

“It's time you took off that necklace.”

Sera's hand flew to her chest.

“You gave it to me.”

“I gave it to my daughter.”

Rinaldi placed the DNA report on the table.

Luca stared.

“Eve... is your daughter?”

He looked from the report to me. His hand slipped into his inside jacket pocket.

The corner of last night's ring box appeared.

I rested my hand on the table. A faint mark remained where I'd worn my ring for eight years.

“Luca, we were already over when I gave you back the key yesterday.”

He held on to the box, but he didn't take it out.
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