Chapter 5 - The Trap Marco Walked Into
Three nights later, Grace returned to Bellissimo.
Marco believed she had resumed her normal routine.
That was exactly what Elena wanted him to believe.
Grace carried a tray through the dining room.
Vincent sat in his original corner booth.
Same whiskey.
Same black suit.
Same controlled expression.
This time, Grace knew the tattoos beneath his cuffs, the faint scar near his thumb, and the strange way his face softened whenever Pepper was mentioned.
Marco arrived at 9:17.
He walked directly toward her.
“You finally stopped hiding.”
Grace set down her tray.
“I wasn’t hiding.”
Marco glanced toward Vincent’s booth.
“He can’t protect you forever.”
“I’m not asking him to.”
“Then come outside.”
“No.”
His smile vanished.
“Grace.”
“No.”
“You’ve been telling lies about me.”
“I’ve been telling the truth.”
Marco switched to Italian.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.”
Grace answered in English.
“Actually, I do.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Your mother lives alone.”
Grace’s stomach tightened.
But she remained still.
Marco leaned closer.
“Maybe next time I visit, she’ll be home.”
Grace stared at him.
“Say that again.”
He smiled.
“Why?”
“Because I want to make sure I heard you.”
Marco suddenly looked around.
Vincent remained seated.
Marco laughed.
“You think Moretti scares me?”
Vincent raised his whiskey glass slightly.
Marco’s confidence faltered.
Grace said, “You should leave.”
“You belong with me.”
“I never belonged to you.”
“You’ll regret saying that.”
A voice behind Marco answered.
“No, she won’t.”
Elena Torres stood near the bar.
Beside her were two Chicago police officers.
Marco’s face collapsed.
“What is this?”
Grace stepped back.
“A documented violation.”
Marco looked at Vincent.
“You set me up.”
Vincent remained seated.
“No.”
He took a slow drink.
“She told you to leave.”
Marco turned toward Grace.
“You planned this?”
Grace held his gaze.
“You kept telling me nobody would understand.”
She shook her head.
“Turns out plenty of people understand when you finally let them hear you.”
One officer approached Marco.
“We need to speak with you, sir.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“Sir.”
Marco pointed toward Vincent.
“He’s the criminal!”
Vincent calmly placed his glass down.
“Then report me.”
Marco stared.
Vincent continued.
“But tonight isn’t about me.”
Grace felt something shift inside her.
For a year, Marco had controlled every room he entered simply because she feared what he might do next.
Not anymore.
Marco looked at her one final time.
“You think this is over?”
Grace answered without hesitation.
“For me, it is.”
The officers escorted him away.
The door closed.
Bellissimo became silent.
Then someone at table six started clapping.
Grace looked over in horror.
Another customer joined.
Then another.
“Oh God,” she whispered.
Vincent smiled.
“You wanted witnesses.”
“Not applause.”
“Too late.”
Grace started laughing.
May you like
And for the first time in nearly a year, the restaurant doors did not frighten her.
---
