Chapter 3 - The Night the Cars Arrived
Mia noticed the first SUV through the front window.
Then another.
Then a black sedan.
Three men in dark suits stepped onto the sidewalk.
Mia stopped pouring water.
One of the men scanned the restaurant through the glass.
The manager, Paul, appeared beside her.
“What’s happening?”
“No idea.”
The front door opened.
Two men entered.
Neither sat down.
They positioned themselves near the entrance.
The restaurant slowly became quiet.
Then the third man entered.
Mia recognized him.
Not his name.
His face.
She had seen him sitting outside in a car two nights earlier.
He approached Paul.
“We need the area around the corner table cleared.”
Paul swallowed.
“Why?”
“Mr. Romano is arriving.”
A businessman at table six turned sharply.
“Romano?”
Another customer whispered:
“Vincent Romano?”
Mia froze.
The door opened again.
Vincent walked inside.
But this wasn't her Vincent.
The man entering Bellamy’s carried himself differently.
Black suit.
White shirt.
Dark tattoos visible across part of his hand as he adjusted his cuff.
Two more security men remained behind him.
Everyone watched.
A customer whispered:
“That’s Vincent Romano.”
Mia stared.
Romano Holdings.
The billionaire whose company owned some of the most expensive hotels in America.
The man newspapers described as ruthless in negotiations.
And there were darker rumors.
Stories about the Romano family.
Influence.
Connections.
Men who never betrayed them twice.
Vincent saw Mia.
Everything else in the restaurant disappeared.
He approached.
She didn't move.
He stopped directly in front of her.
“You know now.”
Mia stared at him.
“Yes.”
Paul looked horrified.
“Mia, that's Mr. Romano.”
“I gathered that.”
Vincent almost smiled.
Almost.
“And?” he asked.
“And what?”
“You're not going to say anything?”
Mia folded her arms.
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“For three weeks.”
“Yes.”
“You let me call you Vincent-Is-Enough.”
One security man lowered his eyes, apparently hiding a reaction.
Vincent said, “That was unfortunate.”
Mia stared another second.
Then:
“Did you enjoy it?”
Vincent blinked.
“What?”
“Being normal.”
The question struck him harder than anger would have.
“Yes.”
Mia nodded.
“Then I understand.”
Vincent's expression changed.
“You're not angry?”
“I didn't say that.”
“Mia—”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“But you weren't pretending to be someone better.”
The entire restaurant had become silent.
Mia stepped closer.
“You wanted to know whether someone could like you before they knew your name.”
Vincent had no answer.
She lowered her voice.
“Everyone else was looking at your power.”
Her eyes remained fixed on his.
“I was just looking at you.”
For several seconds, Vincent Romano forgot there were thirty people watching him.
Then one of his security men approached.
“Sir.”
Vincent turned.
“Not now.”
“It’s important.”
Vincent's expression hardened.
“What?”
The man whispered something.
Mia couldn't hear it.
But Vincent changed instantly.
The lonely customer disappeared.
The powerful man returned.
“Get everyone outside.”
“Vincent?” Mia asked.
He turned toward her.
“You need to go home.”
“Why?”
“Now, Mia.”
“I’m working.”
“Not anymore.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Don't order me around.”
His security men looked astonished.
Vincent lowered his voice.
“Someone followed my convoy.”
Mia's irritation vanished.
“Here?”
“We don't know.”
Paul stepped forward nervously.
“Is the restaurant in danger?”
“No,” Vincent said. “And it won't be.”
He looked at his security chief.
“Make sure everyone gets home safely.”
Then Mia touched his arm.
Vincent looked down.
“Are you okay?”
The room went silent again.
Not “Are we safe?”
Not “Who is following you?”
Not “What have you brought here?”
Are you okay?
Vincent stared at her.
“Yes.”
Mia knew immediately.
“You're lying again.”
Despite everything, Vincent smiled.
May you like
And that was the moment his security chief understood why Vincent Romano had been disappearing every night.
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