Chapter 4 - Blood Is Not Always Family
Luca’s younger brother was named Adrian.
Emma learned that the next morning when he walked into the diner smiling like a man who had never worried about anything in his life.
He was younger than Luca by five years.
Same dark hair.
Same sharp jaw.
Different eyes.
Luca’s eyes watched everything.
Adrian’s eyes measured what everything was worth.
“You must be Emma.”
Emma didn’t smile.
“You must be the brother.”
Adrian laughed.
“Luca talks about me?”
“Not warmly.”
“Sounds like him.”
He sat at the counter.
“Coffee.”
“Pay first.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“Do all customers get this treatment?”
“Only possible mafia traitors.”
Adrian’s smile disappeared.
Interesting.
Emma poured the coffee.
“You think I betrayed my brother?”
“I think somebody did.”
“And Luca told you I knew about the hospital payment?”
Emma said nothing.
Adrian leaned backward.
“He trusts you quickly.”
“He doesn’t trust me.”
“He paid eighty-six grand for you.”
“I saved his life.”
“According to him.”
Emma stared at Adrian.
“What do you want?”
“To warn you.”
“Popular activity lately.”
“My brother has always believed he can fix things.”
Adrian stirred his coffee.
“Our father built something ugly. Luca thinks he can wash the blood off it, put everyone in legitimate businesses, and walk into the sunset.”
“And you?”
“I’m realistic.”
“That usually means something bad when men like you say it.”
Adrian smiled again.
“You’re interesting.”
“You’re still not answering.”
He leaned closer.
“I think empires belong to whoever is strong enough to keep them.”
Emma’s stomach tightened.
There it was.
“You should go.”
“Tell Luca I stopped by.”
“I think he already knows.”
Adrian glanced toward the window.
Across the street, Salvatore stood beside a parked SUV.
Adrian’s expression hardened.
Then the bell rang again.
Luca walked in.
The brothers stared at one another.
“Adrian.”
“Luca.”
Emma muttered, “Wonderful. Family breakfast.”
Luca ignored her.
“What are you doing here?”
“Meeting the woman you apparently trust more than blood.”
“I asked what you’re doing here.”
Adrian stood.
“Careful, brother.”
“Why?”
“Because paranoia makes people sloppy.”
Luca stepped closer.
“And greed makes them obvious.”
Silence.
Adrian laughed once.
“You think it was me?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t need to.”
Emma looked between them.
“Someone threatened me yesterday using information only four people knew.”
Adrian turned toward her.
“And that proves what?”
“Nothing.”
She held his gaze.
“But you walked in here this morning without anyone telling you I suspected you.”
Adrian’s face changed.
Barely.
But Luca saw it too.
Emma continued.
“You asked whether Luca told me you knew about the hospital payment.”
Adrian said nothing.
Emma leaned forward.
“I never said which information had leaked.”
Luca’s voice dropped.
“Adrian.”
Adrian looked at his brother.
For several seconds, the diner was silent except for rain tapping the windows.
Then Adrian smiled.
“Smart waitress.”
Luca grabbed him by the coat.
“What did you do?”
Rosie yelled from the kitchen.
“Not in my diner!”
Emma stepped between them.
“Luca.”
His grip tightened.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Emma.”
“If you hit him, he wins.”
Adrian laughed.
“She really does know you.”
Luca released him.
Adrian straightened his coat.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes,” Luca said.
“I told Carlo where you’d be.”
The words landed like a gunshot.
Luca’s face emptied.
Emma whispered, “Why?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Because Luca was going to destroy everything our father spent forty years building.”
“He was trying to keep you out of prison.”
“He was going to hand evidence to federal investigators.”
Luca said, “Evidence against murderers, extortionists, traffickers—”
“Our family.”
“Our family became a disease.”
Adrian slammed his hand on the counter.
“Our father made us powerful!”
“Our father made us afraid of our own last name!”
Emma watched Luca.
This wasn’t business anymore.
This was twenty years of resentment finally breaking through.
Adrian looked toward him.
“You were always his favorite.”
Luca laughed bitterly.
“He beat me unconscious when I was seventeen.”
“He respected you.”
“That was respect?”
“You were the heir.”
“And you wanted that?”
“Yes!”
The diner went silent.
Adrian breathed hard.
“Yes. I wanted it.”
Luca looked almost sad.
“You could have had every legitimate company.”
“I didn’t want restaurants and construction contracts.”
“You wanted fear.”
“I wanted people to know our name.”
“They already know it.”
Luca’s voice softened.
“That’s the problem.”
Adrian stepped toward the door.
Luca said, “Federal agents already have copies.”
Adrian stopped.
“You’re lying.”
“No.”
“Then why aren’t they here?”
“Because I asked them to wait.”
“For what?”
Luca glanced at Emma.
“For you to admit it.”
Adrian’s face drained.
Emma stared at Luca.
“You recorded this?”
Luca tapped the phone in his pocket.
Adrian lunged.
Salvatore entered immediately.
Two more men appeared behind him.
Adrian stopped.
Luca shook his head.
“Don’t.”
Adrian looked at his brother.
“You’d hand me over?”
“I’m giving you a chance to cooperate.”
“With the government?”
“With reality.”
“You’re weak.”
“No.”
Luca looked around the diner.
“I’m tired.”
Adrian’s expression twisted.
“You think this ends with me?”
Luca frowned.
“Carlo won’t let you testify.”
Adrian smiled.
“And he knows exactly where you’re meeting the agents.”
Luca froze.
“When?”
Adrian’s smile widened.
May you like
“Today.”
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