Chapter 5 - The Woman Who Changed the Wolf
The revelation changed everything.
Lorenzo had spent eight years believing his uncle was dead.
But now every piece of his family's history was falling apart.
And Anna was standing in the center of it.
Because the information hidden by her grandmother was connected to the Moretti family.
"I don't understand," Anna said.
Lorenzo looked at the documents spread across the table.
"Your grandmother knew the truth."
"What truth?"
"That my uncle never died."
Anna stared.
"And she hid it?"
"She protected it."
"Why?"
Lorenzo looked at her.
"Because she knew someone would kill anyone who revealed it."
Anna shook her head.
"My grandmother wasn't involved with criminals."
"No."
Lorenzo's voice softened.
"She was protecting people from them."
That answer changed something inside Anna.
Because that sounded exactly like the woman she remembered.
Kind.
Brave.
Always putting others before herself.
Days passed.
Anna found herself working closely with Lorenzo.
She hated admitting it.
But he was different when nobody else was watching.
He remembered small details.
Her coffee order.
Her dislike of elevators.
The fact she hated thunderstorms because they reminded her of Palermo nights.
"You pay too much attention."
Anna said one evening.
They stood on the balcony of Lorenzo's apartment overlooking Manhattan.
Lorenzo looked at her.
"Is that a complaint?"
"Maybe."
"Why?"
"Because dangerous men are not supposed to notice things."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"Maybe I am tired of being only that."
Anna looked at him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then she said:
"Why me?"
Lorenzo didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth was harder than any lie.
"Because you looked at me and saw a person."
Anna looked away.
"That doesn't make me special."
"It does to me."
The honesty surprised her.
Before she could respond, Lorenzo's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
"What happened?"
A pause.
Then:
"Find her."
Anna noticed.
"Who?"
Lorenzo looked at her.
"The person who has been trying to destroy my family."
A pause.
"And they just found out about you."
Anna's heart stopped.
"What does that mean?"
Lorenzo stepped closer.
"It means from this moment forward..."
His voice lowered.
"You are no longer just the woman who insulted me in Italian."
Anna looked at him.
"What am I?"
Lorenzo held her gaze.
May you like
"The only person I trust."
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