Chapter 5 - THE REMOVAL OF THE TRAITOR
|
Michael did not attempt to fight as two senior capos stepped forward and seized him by his shoulders.
His head hung low, his tears wetting the lapels of his expensive tuxedo.
“Lock him in the east carriage house,” Luca ordered, his tone devoid of any brotherly warmth.
“Put four armed guards outside the perimeter.”
“If he attempts to approach our mother or touch a telephone, shoot him in the leg.”
The heavy oak doors closed behind Michael, taking the last remnants of his treacherous presence out of the room.
A suffocating stillness descended over the thirty-six guests.
Every wealthy relative and syndicate associate sat in terrified awe of the man standing at the head of the table.
In less than fifteen minutes, Luca Moretti had dismantled an engagement, shattered an alliance, and purged his own bloodline.
He turned his gaze toward the table, his dark eyes sweeping over the frozen faces.
“Our dinner has concluded,” Luca announced calmly.
“The staff will arrange private transportation for anyone who requires it.”
“Tomorrow morning, the Commission will convene at ten o'clock at St. Anthony’s parish hall.”
“Anyone who fails to attend will be considered an accomplice to the Bellini conspiracy.”
The guests did not need to be told twice.
Within three minutes, chairs were quietly pushed back, polite murmurs of respect were offered to Teresa, and the room cleared completely.
Only four people remained in the vast, candlelit dining hall: Luca, Teresa, Uncle Carmine, and me.
Teresa sat with her head resting against my shoulder, her frail body still trembling from the emotional tempest.
I gently wrapped my arms around her, stroking her silver hair while whispering soft words of comfort.
Luca walked back to the head of the table and sat in the chair beside his mother.
He looked down at the cold, half-eaten pieces of chicken on Teresa’s porcelain plate.
Then he looked at the chair I had pulled up beside her—the chair Vanessa had ordered me to move away.
“Hannah,” Luca said softly.
I looked up, meeting his tired, wounded eyes.
“Yes, Mr. Moretti?”
“Sit down in that chair.”
I hesitated, my hands smoothing down the fabric of my white housekeeping apron.
“Sir, I’m the maid. I should clear the table and bring your mother some fresh tea—”
“Sit down, Hannah,” he repeated, his voice carrying an unyielding, protective gentleness.
I slowly lowered myself into the velvet-cushioned chair beside Teresa.
Uncle Carmine walked over, his weathered face etched with deep sorrow, and placed a heavy hand on Luca’s shoulder.
“Roberto was my dearest friend, Luca,” Carmine said, his voice cracking with old grief.
“If I had known what Michael was planning... if I had paid closer attention to the medical reports...”
“None of us knew, Uncle Carmine,” Luca replied, staring down at his father’s signet ring on his finger.
“Michael was careful.”
“He used our grief to blind us.”
Carmine looked at Teresa, bowing his head with profound reverence.
“Your house is cleansed, Teresa.”
“Rest tonight. Tomorrow, the family will stand behind Luca.”
Carmine kissed the old woman’s forehead, nodded respectfully to me, and walked out into the quiet night.
The heavy front doors clicked shut, leaving only the soft crackle of the fireplace flames.
Teresa reached across the table, taking Luca’s large, scarred hand in hers, then reaching out to take mine with the other.
She joined our hands together over the white tablecloth.
“You saved my life tonight, Hannah,” Teresa whispered, fresh tears shining on her wrinkled cheeks.
“If you hadn't spoken up... I would have been in that car within an hour.”
I squeezed her fragile fingers, feeling an overwhelming warmth spread through my chest.
“You didn't deserve to be hidden away, Mrs. Moretti,” I said softly.
Luca looked down at our joined hands, his thumb gently brushing across the back of my fingers.
His touch was warm, firm, and filled with a silent, intense gratitude that made my heart race.
“You risked everything for my mother tonight, Hannah,” Luca said, his dark eyes locking onto mine.
“Vanessa threatened your mother’s livelihood, and you still stood your ground.”
“My mother taught me that a person’s dignity isn't for sale, Mr. Moretti,” I replied honestly.
May you like
Luca looked at me for a long, quiet moment, an expression crossing his handsome face that I had never seen before.
“Starting tonight, Hannah,” Luca said softly, “nobody will ever threaten your family again.”
