Chapter 25 - The Proposal Nobody Expected
Adrian Bellandi could negotiate port agreements involving billions of dollars without blinking.
He could stare down armed men.
He could command rooms full of politicians, criminals, executives, and federal prosecutors.
He could not make pancakes.
Elena stared at the blackened object on her plate.
“What is this?”
“Breakfast.”
“It has structural integrity.”
“I followed the recipe.”
“You created roofing material.”
Sofia laughed from across the kitchen.
Her good mornings were becoming more frequent.
Treatment had helped.
So had familiar surroundings.
Isabella visited daily.
Dominic drank coffee and pretended not to enjoy domestic chaos.
For the first time, the Caruso estate felt like a home.
Three months passed.
Vittorio’s trial began.
Luca pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges.
Bernardo remained imprisoned.
Caruso Maritime expanded its employee ownership plan and became more profitable than it had been under Antonio.
Elena still attended dock meetings personally.
She also returned once a month to Aurelia restaurant and worked a dinner shift anonymously enough to irritate security.
Adrian hated it.
Tasha loved it.
One cold December evening, Adrian brought Elena to Pier Seventeen.
Snow fell lightly.
The waterfront redevelopment was nearly complete.
An old warehouse had been converted into a public market and maritime museum.
“What are we doing here?”
“Inspection.”
“At nine at night?”
“Yes.”
“You’re lying.”
“Yes.”
Inside the warehouse, thousands of tiny lights illuminated the old brick walls.
No crowd.
No orchestra.
No photographers.
Only one table.
Table eight from Aurelia.
Elena stopped.
“You stole restaurant furniture.”
“I purchased it.”
“Kevin sold you table eight?”
“For an offensive amount of money.”
Elena laughed.
On the table sat a black corded phone.
“What is that?”
“Ring it.”
She picked up the receiver.
A recording played.
Her own voice.
Years earlier.
Security audio from the restaurant.
Your mother would have washed your mouth with soap before she let you insult someone holding your dinner.
Elena stared at Adrian.
He looked embarrassed.
“You kept that?”
“It was the first time anyone publicly insulted me and survived.”
“Romantic.”
“I’m trying.”
He moved around the table.
Then did something Elena Caruso never expected to see.
Adrian Bellandi knelt.
Her breath vanished.
“No.”
His face fell.
“No?”
“I mean—wait.”
She covered her mouth.
“Oh my God.”
He laughed nervously.
Actually nervously.
“Elena June Caruso, you ruined my favorite restaurant, started three wars, punched me twice—”
“Three times.”
“—three times, refused every sensible instruction I ever gave you, and somehow made my life better.”
Tears filled her eyes.
Adrian opened a small box.
Inside rested a simple antique diamond ring.
“It belonged to my mother.”
Elena started crying.
Adrian continued.
“I spent most of my life believing loyalty was debt. You taught me it can be choice.”
He swallowed.
“I choose you.”
For once, Elena had no clever answer.
“Will you marry me?”
She stared at him.
Then at the ring.
Then back at him.
“No.”
Adrian went pale.
She dropped to her knees in front of him.
“I’m kidding.”
He stared.
She burst out laughing through tears.
“You’re evil.”
“Yes.”
“Answer the question.”
“Yes.”
His eyes closed in relief.
“Yes?”
“Yes, Adrian.”
He slid the ring onto her finger.
It sat beside Antonio’s falcon signet.
Past and future.
Adrian kissed her.
Somewhere above them, Dominic turned off a hidden security camera.
He smiled to himself.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from federal prosecutors.
Vittorio De Luca had requested a private meeting with Elena before sentencing.
May you like
Dominic’s smile vanished.
Some ghosts apparently needed one final conversation.
