Chapter 6 - The Betrayal at Marino's
Ava insisted on going.
Luca insisted she stay.
For three minutes they argued beside the SUV.
Then Ava said the sentence that ended it.
"My daughter is involved. My mother died because of this. You don't get to decide where I go."
Luca stared at her.
Then opened the car door.
"Fine."
Marino's was dark when they arrived.
Marco unlocked the side entrance.
The restaurant looked different without customers.
Smaller.
Colder.
Ava had spent thousands of hours there.
Now she wondered whether every shift had been surveillance.
"Jake?"
No answer.
They moved through the dining room.
Ava saw an envelope on table twelve.
Luca's table.
Her name was written across it.
Inside was a letter.
Ava, I know you hate me. You should. But I didn't leave because I stopped loving Emma. Thomas found me eighteen months ago. He told me he knew where she slept. He showed me photographs. He said if I didn't cooperate, you would both disappear from my life permanently. I believed him. Maybe that makes me a coward. Maybe it makes me a father.
Ava stopped reading.
Tears blurred the words.
She continued.
I moved the eighty thousand because Thomas was preparing to take it. I hid most of it. I made it look like I stole everything because I needed you angry enough not to search for me.
Ava whispered, "Idiot."
Luca looked at her.
"He thought abandoning us would protect us."
"Fear makes people choose badly."
"You seem to know a lot about that."
"I do."
She continued.
Thomas needs your signature before your thirtieth birthday. Without it, control of the property eventually transfers directly to you. He has six weeks left.
Ava's heart pounded.
Six weeks.
I came back because Thomas changed the plan. He wants Emma's account too. Marco told me you were injured. I watched the restaurant because I wanted to speak to you. Then I saw Luca.
The next sentence had been underlined.
Don't assume Luca's family is innocent.
Ava lowered the letter.
Luca's face revealed nothing.
"Is he right?"
"My father made mistakes."
"That's not an answer."
"He used shell companies."
"For what?"
"To hide debt."
"Illegal?"
"Sometimes."
Ava stared.
"And my mother helped him?"
"She forced him to clean it up."
That sounded more like Elaine.
A noise came from the kitchen.
Dante moved ahead.
A man stumbled through the swinging door.
Jake.
Ava froze.
He looked thinner.
Older.
Terrified.
"Ava."
She slapped him.
The sound cracked through the restaurant.
Jake didn't move.
"That's for leaving Emma."
"I know."
She slapped him again.
"That's for letting me think you stole from us."
"I know."
Her hand rose again.
Then dropped.
"Why?"
Jake's eyes filled.
"Because I was scared."
"So was I."
"I know."
"No, you don't."
She stepped closer.
"I held our daughter while she asked why Daddy didn't love her anymore."
Jake broke.
His face folded.
"I love her."
"Then you should have trusted me."
"I thought leaving would keep you alive."
Ava shook her head.
"You don't get to call abandonment protection."
Jake nodded slowly.
"You're right."
That answer hurt more than excuses.
Luca remained several feet away.
Jake looked at him.
"You shouldn't trust him."
Ava said, "I'm getting tired of hearing that."
"His father financed Thomas."
Luca stiffened.
"What?"
"Twenty years ago."
"That's impossible."
Jake pulled a flash drive from his pocket.
"I have records."
Luca took it.
"Where?"
"Your father's old shipping company."
Luca looked stunned.
Jake continued.
"Thomas built his first network using Castellano accounts."
"My father discovered that."
"Eventually."
"And ended it."
"Maybe."
Ava interrupted.
"Enough."
Both men looked at her.
"This isn't about which one of you has the cleaner family history."
She looked at Jake.
"Where is Thomas?"
Jake's face changed.
"Close."
"How close?"
"He's been inside Marino's tonight."
Marco went pale.
"No."
Jake looked toward the dark mezzanine.
"Yes."
A slow clap came from above.
Everyone looked up.
An older man stepped into the dim light.
Gray hair.
Expensive coat.
Calm smile.
Margaret whispered from behind them.
"Thomas."
Her brother looked down.
"Hello, Maggie."
Luca moved toward Ava.
Thomas noticed.
"Still playing protector, Luca?"
"What do you want?"
Thomas smiled.
"One signature."
Ava looked up.
"Mine?"
"Yours."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then nothing dramatic."
His smile widened.
"We're civilized people."
Ava didn't believe him.
Thomas descended the stairs.
Dante moved forward.
Thomas stopped.
"No need."
He placed a folder on a table.
"Read it."
Ava opened it.
A settlement.
She would transfer development rights.
In return, Thomas would release all claims and disappear.
"No."
Thomas smiled.
"You haven't seen the number."
"I don't care."
"Twenty million dollars."
Marco inhaled sharply.
Ava closed the folder.
"No."
Thomas studied her.
"Your mother said the same thing."
The room went silent.
Ava stepped toward him.
"You knew my mother."
"Very well."
"Did you damage her car?"
Margaret whispered, "Thomas."
He ignored her.
Ava repeated, "Did you kill my mother?"
Thomas looked directly into her eyes.
Then smiled.
"Ask Luca who ordered the mechanic."
Ava turned.
May you like
Luca's face had gone white.
And for the first time since she met him, he had no answer.
