Chapter 4 - The Woman at Table Nine
The next afternoon, Ellie returned to Fiore D’Oro.
Nicholas was furious.
“What are you doing here?”
“Working.”
“You were almost killed twelve hours ago.”
“And my landlord remains strangely unmoved by that.”
“I told you I’d cover your expenses.”
“And I told you no.”
Nicholas followed her toward the dining room.
“Ellie.”
She stopped.
“What?”
“Someone involved in last night’s attack may still be watching you.”
“Then standing next to Manhattan’s most recognizable crime boss probably isn’t helping.”
Nicholas stared.
“Fair point.”
She continued walking.
At 7:16 p.m., a woman entered alone.
Elegant.
Silver hair.
Black coat.
Table nine.
Ellie approached.
“Good evening. Can I start you with something to drink?”
The woman smiled.
“Coffee.”
“Of course.”
“And tell Nicholas I’d like to speak with him.”
Ellie paused.
“You know Mr. Pellagrini?”
“Better than he knows himself.”
Nicholas appeared five minutes later.
The moment he saw the woman, his face changed.
“Aunt Sofia.”
Ellie almost dropped the coffee pot.
Sofia Pellagrini smiled.
“Sit down, Nicholas.”
“I prefer standing.”
“You always did.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Cleaning up Anthony’s mess.”
Nicholas’s eyes narrowed.
Sofia looked toward Ellie.
“You’re the girl.”
“What girl?”
“The one who pulled him away.”
Ellie nodded cautiously.
Sofia studied her.
“Bad luck.”
Nicholas moved closer.
“Explain.”
Sofia sighed.
“Anthony was supposed to frighten you.”
Nicholas went still.
“Not kill you?”
“Correct.”
“Who gave that order?”
Sofia looked directly at him.
“I did.”
Ellie stepped backward.
Nicholas did not move.
“Why?”
“Because you stopped listening.”
“You put something in my car.”
“Something designed to be discovered before you entered it.”
Nicholas laughed once without humor.
“It exploded.”
“Because Anthony changed the plan.”
Sofia’s voice hardened.
“He wanted you dead.”
Nicholas pulled out a chair and finally sat.
“What were you trying to warn me about?”
“Victor Raines.”
Ellie recognized the name.
A city developer frequently photographed beside politicians and celebrities.
Nicholas frowned.
“He’s legitimate.”
Sofia smiled.
“No one with that much money is entirely legitimate.”
“What does he want?”
“Your waterfront contracts.”
“He can buy his own.”
“He tried.”
Nicholas understood.
“And I blocked him.”
“Yes.”
Sofia looked at Ellie.
“Anthony promised Raines your death. Raines promised Anthony control of everything afterward.”
Nicholas stood.
“Where is Raines?”
Sofia’s eyes shifted toward the restaurant entrance.
Ellie followed her gaze.
A man in a navy overcoat had just walked inside.
Victor Raines.
He smiled across the room.
“Nicholas.”
Nicholas quietly stepped in front of Ellie.
Victor noticed.
“So that’s her.”
Nicholas’s voice became cold.
“You shouldn’t have come here.”
Victor smiled.
May you like
“I came to finish a conversation.”
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