Chapter 6 - The Mafia Boss Who Finally Learned to Beg|
Lorenzo arrived at the café fifteen minutes early.
He wore a black coat over a dark shirt.
His tattoos were visible above his collar and along his hands.
He had shaved.
But the exhaustion remained in his eyes.
For fourteen days, he'd imagined dragging Amelia home.
Now he was waiting at a small table, wondering whether she would come.
At exactly eleven, the door opened.
Amelia entered wearing a cream sweater and a navy coat.
Her hair was tied back.
She looked healthier than she had in the alley.
Still tired.
Still guarded.
But no longer shaking.
Lorenzo stood immediately.
"Amelia."
She nodded.
"Lorenzo."
He pulled out a chair.
She sat.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Lorenzo said:
"I owe you an apology."
Amelia looked up.
"For what?"
He swallowed.
"For the alley."
Her expression changed.
He continued.
"I cornered you. Grabbed your coat. Frightened you."
Amelia looked down.
"You were angry."
"That doesn't excuse it."
Silence.
Then he whispered:
"I should never have made you afraid of me."
Her eyes filled.
For a moment, he wanted to reach for her.
But he didn't.
Amelia took a breath.
"Thank you."
Lorenzo nodded.
Then he placed a folder on the table.
"My mother's letter."
Amelia stared.
He pushed it toward her.
"Read it whenever you're ready."
She opened it carefully.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
"Lorenzo..."
He looked at her.
"Yes?"
"She knew my name."
He nodded.
"And she knew your family."
Amelia closed the letter.
Then she told him everything Elena had said.
Gabriel Moretti.
Her true surname.
Her parents' disappearance.
The old maritime company.
The inheritance.
Lorenzo listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he looked devastated.
"My father was connected to all of it."
Amelia nodded.
"Possibly."
He closed his eyes.
For years, he'd believed Antonio Bianchi was a difficult but honorable man.
Now he was discovering his father might have helped destroy the family of the woman he loved.
Lorenzo took a breath.
"Amelia, I don't know what my father did."
She looked at him.
"I know."
"But if he was involved, I won't hide it."
Her eyes filled.
"Even if it destroys your family's reputation?"
He nodded.
"Even then."
For several seconds, they sat in silence.
Then Amelia whispered:
"Enzo."
His heart stopped.
She hadn't called him that since the alley.
He looked up.
"Yes?"
"I loved you."
The past tense hurt.
He swallowed.
"I love you."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I wanted to marry you."
His voice broke.
"I know."
"I wanted our wedding day."
"So did I."
She looked away.
Then whispered:
"I was so scared."
Lorenzo closed his eyes.
He remembered standing at the cathedral.
The empty aisle.
The whispering guests.
His anger.
All the terrible things he'd imagined saying to her.
Now he wanted to take back every thought.
"I'm sorry I didn't know," he whispered.
Amelia shook her head.
"You couldn't."
"I could have listened better before the wedding."
She looked at him.
He continued.
"You were quiet for days. You kept asking whether Isabella was safe. I told you not to worry."
His face crumpled.
"I thought you were nervous."
Amelia began crying.
For a moment, he couldn't bear the distance between them.
But he waited.
Then she reached across the table.
Placed her hand over his.
His breath caught.
She squeezed gently.
It wasn't forgiveness.
Not yet.
But it was something.
Lorenzo looked at their hands.
Then whispered:
"Will you let me help you?"
Amelia nodded slowly.
"With the investigation."
"Yes."
"And Isabella."
"Of course."
She took a breath.
"But Lorenzo, I can't come home."
His chest tightened.
"I know."
"I need time."
"I'll give you all the time you need."
Tears filled his eyes.
Then he said something that surprised her.
"If loving you means letting you choose a life without me, I'll do that."
Amelia stared.
For years, Lorenzo had been a man who believed losing meant weakness.
Now he was learning that love sometimes meant accepting an answer he didn't want.
She lowered her eyes.
"Thank you."
Then his phone rang.
Marco.
Lorenzo answered.
His expression changed.
"What?"
A pause.
"Where?"
He slowly stood.
Amelia looked up.
"What happened?"
Lorenzo swallowed.
"Marco found Isabella."
Her heart raced.
"Where?"
"At a private medical facility outside New York."
Amelia stood.
"Is she safe?"
He hesitated.
"She's alive."
Relief moved across Amelia's face.
Then she saw Lorenzo's expression.
"What?"
His voice became quiet.
"She was admitted under another name."
Amelia frowned.
"Why?"
Lorenzo swallowed.
"Because someone wanted to conceal her identity."
Then Marco said something through the phone.
Lorenzo went completely still.
"What do you mean she asked for Amelia?"
Amelia froze.
Lorenzo slowly lowered the phone.
His face was pale.
"My sister says she knows why Victor marked you."
Amelia's heart thundered.
"And?"
Lorenzo looked directly into her eyes.
Then whispered:
"She says the scar wasn't meant to punish you."
Amelia stopped breathing.
"Then what was it meant to do?"
May you like
Lorenzo's expression darkened.
"Identify you."
