Chapter 6 - A Mother’s Memory
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Upstairs in the luxurious guest suite, I couldn't sleep.
The room was larger than my entire two-room apartment on the south side of town.
The bed was piled high with down pillows and silk sheets, but I sat on the edge of the mattress, watching Oliver sleep.
He had his arm wrapped tightly around his ragged, threadbare stuffed bear, Barnaby.
He had slept with that brown teddy bear every single night since he was an infant.
I had washed it a hundred times, mending its torn ears and loose buttons with cheap sewing thread.
A gentle knock sounded at the door.
I stood up quickly, adjusting the oversized cashmere cardigan Mrs. Gable had loaned me.
"Come in," I whispered.
The heavy door swung open, and Luca stepped inside.
He had discarded his suit jacket, wearing only a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms.
His dark eyes were bloodshot and rimmed with red.
In his hand, he held the silver watch.
"Is he asleep?" Luca asked softly, glancing toward the bed.
"He's exhausted," I replied. "It's been a terrifying night for him."
Luca walked quietly across the carpet and looked down at his sleeping nephew.
"He looks so much like Matteo when we were kids," Luca murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "The exact same stubborn jawline."
"Luca, what happened downstairs?" I asked, needing to know our fate.
Luca handed me the small folded piece of paper he had recovered from inside the watch.
I read the words through a blur of hot tears.
My hand flew to my mouth to stifle a sob.
"He did this for us," I wept, sinking back onto the bed. "He gave up everything so we could live."
"He trusted me to protect you," Luca said, kneeling down beside me. "And I swear on my mother's grave, I will never let anyone hurt either of you again."
"Claire, look at Oliver's bear," Luca urged gently. "Matteo's note says the key is inside."
I looked at the scruffy brown bear clutched in my son's arms.
Carefully, without waking Oliver, I gently pulled Barnaby from his grip and replaced it with a soft pillow.
Oliver sighed in his sleep and cuddled the pillow against his cheek.
I turned the bear over in my hands.
Along the back seam, I noticed a section where the stitching was slightly thicker and uneven.
I had always assumed I had sewn that spot myself years ago when the seam burst.
"May I?" Luca asked, producing a small pocket knife.
I nodded.
With surgical precision, Luca slit the thick black thread along the bear's back.
He reached two fingers deep into the synthetic cotton stuffing.
His fingers touched something hard and metallic.
Slowly, he pulled out a small, gleaming brass key attached to a numbered brass tag: Box 409.
"He hid the evidence right in Oliver's arms," Luca whispered in awe. "Under our very eyes for three years."
"What is in that bank box, Luca?" I asked, looking up at him.
"The evidence that will bring down the entire Bellini empire," Luca answered, his jaw setting like stone.
"Matteo was always brilliant with ledgers and accounts."
"He knew how the Bellinis laundered their blood money through city contracts."
"With this key, we can strip Salvatore Bellini of every dollar, every dock, and every ounce of power he possesses."
Suddenly, the bedroom door flew open without a knock.
Marco stood in the doorway, breathing hard, holding a sealed white envelope.
"Boss," Marco said, his voice urgent. "Dr. Evans just arrived back from the lab."
May you like
Luca stood up immediately, taking the envelope from Marco's hand.
My heart leaped into my throat as Luca tore open the seal.
