Chapter 6 - The Man Behind the Name
Nicholas Pellagrini was terrible at waiting tables.
“You gave table twelve the wrong wine.”
“They drank it.”
“It was four hundred dollars.”
“They liked it.”
“That isn’t the point.”
Nicholas followed Ellie into the kitchen.
The staff stared.
Ellie pointed toward the coffee machine.
“Two cappuccinos.”
Nicholas frowned at it.
“How?”
“You run half the waterfront.”
“Yes.”
“But the espresso machine scares you?”
“I delegate.”
“Not tonight.”
By midnight, Fiore D’Oro had emptied.
Ellie sat on the front steps.
Nicholas joined her.
Across the street, the burned Mercedes had been removed.
Only dark marks remained on the pavement.
Ellie looked at them.
“Feels strange.”
“What?”
“Yesterday I didn’t know you.”
“You knew who I was.”
“That’s different.”
Nicholas nodded.
“What did you think of me?”
“Do you actually want the answer?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“You scared everyone.”
“And you?”
“You tipped well.”
Nicholas laughed quietly.
Ellie looked at him.
It changed his face.
Made him look younger.
Less like the man people whispered about.
“Why do they fear you?” she asked.
Nicholas considered his answer.
“Because fear is efficient.”
“That sounds lonely.”
“It is.”
The honesty surprised her.
He looked toward the empty street.
“My father taught me that loyalty could be purchased.”
“Was he right?”
“No.”
“Anthony proved that.”
“Yes.”
Ellie hesitated.
“And me?”
Nicholas looked at her.
“What about you?”
“I didn’t save you because you paid me.”
“No.”
“I didn’t even like you.”
“I gathered that.”
“I saw something wrong and reacted.”
Nicholas nodded.
“That’s why I trust you.”
Ellie laughed.
“You barely know me.”
“I knew Anthony thirty-six years.”
That ended her argument.
Nicholas stood.
“I’ll drive you home.”
“In what?”
He looked at the black SUV waiting at the curb.
Ellie stared at it.
Then at him.
“No.”
Nicholas almost smiled.
“What?”
“I’m checking under the dashboard first.”
He opened the passenger door.
“Be my guest.”
She leaned inside.
Nicholas watched.
“Anything?”
“No suspicious wires.”
“Comforting.”
Ellie straightened.
Their faces were suddenly close.
Neither moved.
Nicholas spoke first.
“Dinner tomorrow.”
“You’re asking?”
“Yes.”
“Not ordering?”
“I’m learning.”
Ellie pretended to consider it.
“One dinner.”
Nicholas nodded.
“One.”
“And somewhere without exploding cars.”
“That limits Manhattan considerably.”
She laughed.
May you like
Then climbed inside.
---
