Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO OWNED THE RESTAURANT
Emma had worked for Alexander DeLuca for four years.
He sent birthday cards to employees.
Remembered who had children.
Paid for a dishwasher’s surgery when insurance refused.
He also, apparently, had tried to kill Lucia Moretti.
“This makes no sense.”
Dante stood beside the windows of his study.
“It usually doesn’t until it does.”
Emma glared.
“That is not comforting.”
“It wasn’t intended to be.”
Luca searched company records.
Aurelia was only one piece.
DeLuca owned restaurants.
Hotels.
Catering companies.
And three food import businesses connected to Moretti shipping routes.
Routes Vittorio had once controlled.
Dante cursed.
“He built access under my nose.”
Emma looked at him.
“You didn’t know he was your brother?”
“No.”
“Did he know?”
“Almost certainly.”
That made DeLuca’s years of friendliness toward Dante’s associates seem different.
Then Lucia signed:
He hates you.
Dante looked at her.
“Why?”
Because your father gave you everything and gave him nothing.
Emma translated.
Dante laughed without humor.
“He thinks I got the better childhood?”
Lucia’s eyes filled.
No one won in that family.
They decided not to confront DeLuca immediately.
Instead, Emma returned to work.
Dante hated the plan.
“It’s too dangerous.”
“You need to know what he knows.”
“I have people for that.”
“He knows your people.”
Dante’s jaw tightened.
Emma continued:
“He may not know I know who he is.”
“That is an assumption.”
“Yes.”
“A dangerous one.”
“Yes.”
“Emma.”
She stepped closer.
“You don’t get to decide for me because you’re afraid.”
He went still.
The sentence clearly hit something.
Lucia had probably said versions of it for years.
Dante exhaled.
“Fine.”
“Fine?”
“I hate this.”
“That’s allowed.”
“I’m sending security.”
“One person.”
“Three.”
“One.”
“Two.”
She smiled.
“Deal.”
Dante looked annoyed that she had negotiated successfully.
At Aurelia, DeLuca greeted her as usual.
“Emma.”
“Mr. DeLuca.”
“Interesting dinner the other night.”
Her heart skipped.
“What do you mean?”
“Moretti.”
He smiled.
“I heard his mother liked you.”
“Word travels.”
“In this city, always.”
His eyes lingered on her hands.
Then:
“You sign well.”
Emma forced herself not to react.
“My sister is deaf.”
“I know.”
He walked away.
The words chilled her.
Later, while closing the private dining room, Emma found an envelope beneath table twelve.
Her name on it.
Inside:
A photograph of Lily leaving campus.
A note.
IF YOU KEEP TRANSLATING FOR LUCIA, YOUR SISTER LOSES MORE THAN HER SCHOLARSHIP.
Emma’s hands shook.
Then the lights went out.
The emergency lighting failed too.
Someone entered the room behind her.
Emma turned.
DeLuca stood in the doorway.
No smile.
“You were supposed to be useful.”
He closed the door.
“Not curious.”
Before Emma could move, another shape emerged from the dark.
A massive black dog.
Orion.
DeLuca froze.
May you like
Then Dante’s voice came from behind him.
“You should have checked the kitchen.”
