Chapter 13 - THE REUNION THAT WAITED TWENTY YEARS
Michael Hastings stood beside a hospital window when Rosie entered the room.
He looked nothing like the father she'd imagined.
His dark hair was streaked with gray.
His shoulders were thinner.
A faint scar crossed his forehead.
But when he turned toward her, Rosie recognized his eyes.
Green.
Just like hers.
For twenty years, she'd believed those eyes belonged to a man who had chosen to leave.
Now she knew the truth.
"Rosalina?"
His voice cracked.
Rosie stopped.
She had imagined this moment a thousand times.
Sometimes she would scream.
Sometimes she would refuse to speak.
Sometimes she would turn around and leave him standing there.
Instead, she whispered, "Dad?"
Michael began crying.
"Oh, sweetheart."
Rosie crossed the room.
He opened his arms.
She fell into them.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
There were no explanations.
No excuses.
Only a father holding the daughter he'd spent two decades missing.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Rosie shook her head against his shoulder.
"I thought you didn't want me."
Michael held her tighter.
"Never."
"Then why didn't you come home?"
"Because I believed they would kill you."
Rosie pulled back.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"You're here now."
He nodded.
"I'm here."
A quiet knock came from the doorway.
Antonella stood beside Lorenzo.
Her hands trembled.
"Michael?"
He turned.
For a moment, he looked like a frightened boy.
"Nonna?"
Antonella began sobbing.
She crossed the room and embraced him.
Rosie watched them cry together.
Three generations.
Two decades of separation.
And finally, a chance to begin again.
Lorenzo remained near the doorway.
He didn't interrupt.
But Michael eventually looked toward him.
"Lorenzo?"
The mafia boss went completely still.
Michael approached slowly.
"I know who you are."
Lorenzo swallowed.
"I've been looking for you."
Michael smiled through tears.
"I know."
Then the brothers embraced.
Rosie covered her mouth.
The two men had spent their entire lives believing the other was lost.
Now they stood together in a hospital room while autumn sunlight filtered through the windows.
For a moment, the nightmare seemed finished.
But Michael pulled back.
His expression changed.
"Lorenzo, we have a problem."
"What?"
"Vescari isn't the only person involved."
Lorenzo frowned.
"We know Mateo helped him."
Michael shook his head.
"Mateo was being blackmailed."
"Then who?"
Michael looked toward Rosie.
"The person who arranged your mother's death."
Rosie froze.
"My mother died in a car accident."
Michael's eyes filled with grief.
"No, sweetheart."
May you like
His voice broke.
"Your mother was murdered."
