Chapter 4 - The Deal She Never Agreed To
Anna refused to believe Lorenzo.
Not because she thought he was lying.
That would have been easier.
She refused because believing him meant accepting that her family's past was connected to his.
And Anna had spent years escaping that world.
Her mother had taken her from Palermo when she was twelve.
No explanations.
No goodbye.
Only one sentence:
"Promise me you will never become part of their world."
Anna had kept that promise.
Until Lorenzo Moretti walked into her hotel.
"You knew my grandmother?"
Anna stood inside Lorenzo's private office the next evening.
She had agreed to meet him only because she needed answers.
Not because she trusted him.
Never because of that.
Lorenzo sat behind his desk.
A glass of untouched whiskey rested beside him.
"My father respected Isabella Bellini."
Anna frowned.
"My grandmother?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Lorenzo looked at an old photograph on his desk.
A young man.
A woman.
A child.
"Because she saved his life."
Anna became silent.
"My grandmother saved a Moretti?"
"She did more than that."
Lorenzo looked at her.
"She protected information that could have destroyed my family."
Anna stared.
"What information?"
"That's the problem."
He leaned back.
"I don't know."
A knock interrupted them.
One of Lorenzo's men entered.
"Boss."
Lorenzo looked up.
"Speak."
"We found the leak."
Anna noticed his expression change.
"Who?"
The man hesitated.
"Marco."
The room became still.
Lorenzo's oldest friend.
Anna didn't know the man.
But she knew enough from Lorenzo's reaction.
This was personal.
"Bring him."
The man left.
Anna looked at Lorenzo.
"You're going to hurt him."
"No."
The answer surprised her.
"I'm going to ask questions."
"And if he doesn't answer?"
Lorenzo looked at her.
"Then I decide what happens next."
Anna saw the darkness behind his calm.
For the first time, she understood.
Lorenzo was not pretending to be dangerous.
He was dangerous.
But something else was there too.
A man trying desperately not to become worse.
Hours later, Marco was brought into the office.
The betrayal was obvious.
Not from his words.
From his silence.
"You sold information."
Lorenzo's voice was quiet.
Marco looked down.
"I had no choice."
"Everyone says that."
Marco looked up.
"They threatened my daughter."
The room changed.
Anna noticed Lorenzo's expression.
Not anger.
Understanding.
"You should have come to me."
Marco shook his head.
"They would have killed her."
Lorenzo remained silent.
Then:
"Who?"
Marco hesitated.
"The person who ordered the attack on your family."
Anna stepped closer.
"Your enemy?"
Marco nodded.
"No."
He looked at Lorenzo.
"Your uncle."
Silence.
Lorenzo's face became unreadable.
"My uncle died eight years ago."
Marco swallowed.
May you like
"That is what everyone believes."
---
