Chapter 7 - The Choice
The next morning, the mansion was a hive of activity. Police, private investigators, and cleanup crews moved through the halls.
Alessandro sat in his chair, watching me in the kitchen.
“I can’t keep doing this,” I said, pouring coffee. “My daughter almost died yesterday.”
“I know,” he said. “That’s why you’re leaving.”
My heart sank. “You’re firing us?”
“No,” he said, leaning forward. “I’m sending you to the villa in Italy. My villa. It’s secure, it’s beautiful, and it’s a long way from the business I run. You’ll be safe there.”
“Why?” I asked, my voice cracking. “Why would you do that for us?”
He turned his head toward the window. “Because for the first time in years, the house felt like a home for an hour. And because your daughter... she’s the only person who hasn’t asked me for a favor, a bribe, or a deal. She just wanted me to eat my soup.”
May you like
I felt a tear slip down my cheek. “You’re a dangerous man, Alessandro.”
“I’m a man who survives,” he corrected. “And I want you two to survive, too.”
