Chapter 5 - What Serena Never Told Him
Back at the estate, Damiano ordered everyone out of his office except Serena.
Lucia slept upstairs under Mrs. Caruso’s watch.
The old photograph lay between them.
Damiano poured two glasses of water.
He pushed one toward Serena.
She didn’t touch it.
“You should fire me,” she said.
“Why?”
“I brought this into your house.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I knew my mother had secrets.”
“So did mine.”
Serena looked at him.
Damiano sat across from her.
“Tell me everything.”
She took a breath.
“My mother worked for your family before I was born. She cared for your brother sometimes.”
“Nico.”
“Yes.”
Damiano looked at the photograph.
“He liked her.”
“My mother loved both of you.”
He looked up.
Serena continued.
“She knew someone was giving information to your family’s enemies. She discovered payments connected to Vittorio Bellini.”
“Marco’s father.”
“She tried to warn your father.”
“He didn’t believe her.”
“No.”
Damiano almost smiled.
“That sounds like him.”
“After Nico died, Vittorio convinced your father that my mother had been involved.”
Damiano’s expression darkened.
“She ran.”
“With me.”
“And kept the evidence.”
“Yes.”
“Why hide it for twenty years?”
“Because she was afraid.”
“Of my father?”
“Of everyone.”
Damiano leaned back.
Serena looked toward the door.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“My mother knew you remembered her.”
“I barely do.”
“She said you would.”
Serena reached for the photograph and turned it over.
There was handwriting on the back.
Damiano had never noticed it.
D — You were never responsible. Protect the truth when you’re old enough to understand it. — Isabella
His face changed.
Serena watched him.
“What did she mean?”
Damiano didn’t answer immediately.
“When Nico died, I was sixteen.”
He stared at the handwriting.
“I changed our plans that afternoon. I asked him to meet me somewhere.”
Serena understood.
“You thought whoever followed him found him because of you.”
“For twenty years.”
“My mother knew.”
“Yes.”
The room became quiet.
Serena finally pushed the glass away.
“I should take Lucia and leave.”
Damiano looked up sharply.
“Why?”
“Because Marco knows where we live.”
“He won’t touch you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No. But I know you’re safer here.”
Serena laughed once.
“In a mafia boss’s house?”
“Currently? Yes.”
That actually made her smile.
Only for a second.
Then Damiano said, “Stay.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Is that an order?”
“No.”
It was perhaps the first time Serena had ever heard him make a request.
She studied him.
“You frightened her today.”
His brow furrowed.
“Lucia?”
“When she heard Marco.”
Damiano looked toward the ceiling as though he could see the sleeping child upstairs.
“She shouldn’t have been involved.”
“No.”
“She won’t be again.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“I can try.”
Serena stood.
“That’s not enough.”
Damiano stood too.
“What do you want from me?”
She looked directly at him.
“The same thing she wanted from you yesterday.”
“What?”
“When you do something wrong, admit it.”
He said nothing.
“And when you make a promise,” Serena continued, “keep it.”
Damiano stared at her.
Then nodded.
“Fair.”
Serena reached the door.
“Serena.”
She turned.
“I am sorry.”
“For what?”
“For yesterday. The coffee. The way I spoke to you.”
A tiny smile appeared.
“Lucia would approve.”
Damiano almost smiled back.
Almost.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His security chief spoke urgently.
Damiano’s expression changed.
“When?”
He listened.
“Lock the gates.”
Serena froze.
“What happened?”
Damiano ended the call.
“Marco disappeared.”
“That’s bad?”
“Yes.”
“How bad?”
Damiano looked toward the staircase.
“He took something from my office before we reached the warehouse.”
“What?”
“My second phone.”
Serena’s face went pale.
The phone contained private numbers.
Schedules.
Locations.
And access codes.
Including the security arrangements for the estate.
May you like
Then, from upstairs, came Lucia’s scream.
“Mommy!”
