Chapter 6 - The Coat She Wouldn't Take
Three weeks later, Lena returned to her apartment.
No guards.
No threats.
No Victor.
Normal life should have felt wonderful.
Instead, it felt strangely quiet.
She returned to the Aurelia.
Management mysteriously offered her job back with double the salary.
She knew exactly who was responsible.
She refused the raise.
Two nights later, Matteo appeared at coat check.
Alone.
He wore the same charcoal overcoat.
Lena crossed her arms.
“You have a disturbing attachment to this coat.”
“It has sentimental value.”
“It nearly got you killed.”
“So did meeting you.”
“Fair.”
Matteo handed her the coat.
She hung it in slot thirty-seven.
Then he placed something on the counter.
The original silver watch.
Repaired.
Lena stared at it.
“You kept it.”
“My father gave it to me.”
“You never mentioned your father.”
“I don't mention many things.”
“I've noticed.”
Matteo looked toward the casino.
Then back at her.
“Dinner.”
“What?”
“Have dinner with me.”
“Is that an order?”
“No.”
“A mafia favor?”
“No.”
“Am I under protection?”
“No.”
“Being kidnapped politely?”
“No.”
Lena smiled.
“Then ask properly.”
Matteo DeLuca—the man casino owners feared, the man surrounded by armed guards, the man who had survived betrayal from his oldest friend—actually looked uncomfortable.
“Lena Marquez.”
“Yes?”
“Would you have dinner with me?”
She pretended to consider it.
“Maybe.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Maybe?”
“You made me work for every answer.”
She handed him a coat-check ticket.
“Now it's your turn.”
Matteo looked at the number.
Thirty-seven.
“What does this mean?”
“Come back at eight.”
“And if I don't?”
Lena smiled.
May you like
“I keep the coat.”
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