Chapter 5 - What Alio Did Next
Three days later, Adeline sat across from Alio in his study.
Her wrist was sprained but not broken.
Alio placed several documents in front of her.
“What are these?”
“Read them.”
She did.
Her eyes widened.
“You reopened the investigation.”
“Yes.”
“You publicly cleared my mother.”
“Yes.”
Adeline stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because she was innocent.”
“You didn’t know her.”
“That doesn’t change the truth.”
Adeline looked at the final document.
A financial settlement.
The number made her gasp.
“No.”
Alio leaned back.
“No?”
“I don’t want this.”
“It belongs to your family.”
“I came here for the truth.”
“And you found it.”
“That’s enough.”
“No, it isn’t.”
She pushed the paper toward him.
“I won’t owe you.”
Alio’s eyes narrowed.
“You think this buys something?”
“I don’t know how men like you operate.”
“Men like me?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I’d like to hear you say it.”
Adeline met his eyes.
“Powerful men who believe everything has a price.”
Alio was silent.
Then he nodded.
“Fair.”
That surprised her.
He pushed the document aside.
“Then don’t take it.”
She blinked.
“That easily?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch.”
“You’re terrible at being a terrifying crime boss.”
Alio almost smiled.
“Don’t tell anyone.”
A small laugh escaped her.
It was the first time he had heard it.
The sound affected him more than he expected.
Then Adeline became serious.
“I’m resigning.”
His smile vanished.
“Why?”
“I can’t clean this house anymore.”
“Because of Camille?”
“Because every room reminds me of my mother.”
Alio nodded.
“I understand.”
She stood.
He stood too.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Catching me.”
“I almost didn’t.”
“But you did.”
She extended her hand.
He looked at it.
Then shook it carefully.
“Goodbye, Mr. Vicaro.”
“Alio.”
She hesitated.
“Goodbye, Alio.”
She walked toward the door.
“Adeline.”
She turned.
“If you ever need anything—”
“I know.”
Then she left.
Birdie found Alio standing in the same place ten minutes later.
“You’re an idiot.”
Alio looked at her.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“Are you trying to get fired?”
“I’ve worked for your family thirty-four years. If you were going to fire me, you’d have done it already.”
Alio returned to his desk.
“She wanted to leave.”
“And you let her.”
“What was I supposed to do?”
Birdie stared at him.
“Ask her to dinner.”
Alio frowned.
“She worked for me.”
“Past tense.”
“She was injured in my home.”
“Also past tense.”
“She has a daughter.”
Birdie smiled.
“You like the daughter too.”
Alio said nothing.
Birdie laughed.
“Oh, this is worse than I thought.”
“Get out.”
“Yes, sir.”
She reached the door.
“Birdie.”
She turned.
“What?”
Alio looked annoyed with himself.
“Do you have Adeline’s number?”
Birdie grinned.
May you like
“Of course I do.”
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