And a betrayal that had nearly destroyed the Gallo family.
Nora sat at Dante's dining table, translating the handwritten Sicilian.
Some phrases were difficult.
Others were painfully clear.
“Vincenzo arranged the missing shipment,” she said.
Dante looked up.
“He blamed Pietro.”
Nora nodded.
“And Salvatore knew?”
She turned the page.
Dante frowned.
“Your father knew Pietro was innocent. But he didn't know who actually betrayed them.”
Dante leaned back.
“So he let Pietro take the blame.”
“And Vincenzo watched.”
Silence.
Dante looked toward the window.
For years, Vincenzo had advised him.
Helped him.
Celebrated his victories.
Now he wondered how many of those victories had been carefully arranged to keep him dependent.
Nora closed the ledger.
“What happens now?”
“We verify everything.”
She studied him.
“Not revenge?”
He met her eyes.
“Not without proof.”
It was the first answer he'd given that made her feel safer.
Then Dante's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
His expression hardened.
“Where?”
A pause.
“I'm coming.”
He ended the call.
“What happened?”
“Paul's been found.”
“Alive?”
Dante hesitated.
Nora exhaled.
Then he added:
“But someone tried to kill him.”
Chapter 5
Paul lay in a hospital bed with a broken arm and bruises across his face.
Two detectives stood outside his room.
Dante remained in the hallway.
Nora entered with a police officer.
Paul looked at her.
His eyes filled.
She stopped.
He swallowed.
“I needed money.”
“For what?”
“My brother's gambling debts.”
“So you sold information about me?”
Paul began crying.
“They told me it was just a background check.”
He looked toward the door.
“Carbone's people.”
Nora felt cold.
Paul continued.
“They wanted to know if Pietro Rossi had family.”
“Because they thought he left something behind.”
Nora closed her eyes.
The ledger.
“I didn't know they'd hurt anyone.”
She opened her eyes.
“You knew enough to hide.”
He lowered his head.
“I'm sorry.”
For seven months, Paul had controlled her shifts.
Threatened her wages.
Used her financial problems against her.
Now he looked small.
She felt no satisfaction.
Only exhaustion.
“You should tell the detectives everything.”