Chapter 6 - The Debt Emma Refused
Six months later, the Moretti case dominated New York headlines.
Carlo Vescari was indicted on dozens of federal charges.
Several corrupt officials were arrested.
Adrian accepted a plea deal in exchange for testimony.
And Luca?
Luca surrendered control of every illegal operation tied to his family.
He testified.
He paid fines.
He relinquished millions in assets.
And because of his cooperation, he avoided the decades in prison many expected.
Emma watched the news from behind the diner counter.
Rosie slid a coffee toward her.
“Your boyfriend’s on television.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“He paid your hospital bill.”
“That doesn’t make someone your boyfriend.”
“He visits three times a week.”
“He likes the meatloaf.”
“Nobody likes our meatloaf that much.”
Emma stared at her.
Rosie shrugged.
“I own the place. I can say it.”
The bell chimed.
Luca entered.
No security.
No tailored three-piece suit.
Just dark jeans, a white shirt, and the tired expression of a man who had spent months answering questions under fluorescent lights.
He sat at table eight.
Emma approached.
“Coffee?”
“Black.”
“Meatloaf?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“I knew it.”
He laughed.
“Rosie told you?”
“I have instincts.”
Emma poured his coffee.
“So?”
“So what?”
“Court.”
“Finished.”
“Completely?”
Luca nodded.
“For now.”
“And your companies?”
“The legitimate ones survive.”
“Construction?”
“Yes.”
“Restaurants?”
“Yes.”
“Shipping?”
“After considerable government supervision, yes.”
“And the other things?”
“Gone.”
Emma sat opposite him.
“That easy?”
“No.”
“But gone?”
“As much as I can make them gone.”
She nodded.
“Good.”
Luca reached into his coat.
Emma immediately pointed at him.
“If that is money, I’m throwing it into the coffee.”
“It isn’t.”
He placed a folder on the table.
Emma didn’t touch it.
“What?”
“A proposal.”
“That sounds expensive.”
“It is.”
“No.”
“You haven’t read it.”
“I’ve learned.”
Luca slid the folder forward.
Emma opened it.
Inside were architectural drawings.
A restaurant.
No.
A diner.
Bigger than Rosie’s.
Modern kitchen.
Training area.
Office.
And upstairs—
Emma stopped.
“What is this?”
“A nonprofit vocational program.”
“For what?”
“Single parents. People coming out of shelters. Anyone who needs job training and a second chance.”
Emma looked up.
“Why?”
“Because you told me once that you dropped out of community college when your mother got sick.”
Emma stiffened.
“How do you know that?”
“You told Rosie.”
“Rosie.”
From the kitchen came:
“I regret nothing!”
Luca continued.
“You also said you wanted to finish nursing school someday.”
Emma stared at the plans.
“What does that have to do with a diner?”
“You wouldn’t run it.”
“Then who?”
“Rosie.”
A plate crashed in the kitchen.
Rosie appeared.
“I’m sorry, what?”
Luca looked at her.
“If you want it.”
Rosie stared at the plans.
Then at Luca.
“You’re giving me a restaurant?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“I’m funding a nonprofit. I need someone who knows how to run a diner.”
Rosie narrowed her eyes.
“How much are you paying?”
Emma burst out laughing.
Luca smiled.
“We can negotiate.”
Rosie grabbed the folder.
“I suddenly hate you less.”
Then she disappeared into the kitchen.
Emma shook her head.
“This still doesn’t explain me.”
Luca pulled out another document.
A scholarship application.
Already approved.
Emma stared.
“No.”
“Before you refuse—”
“No.”
“It isn’t from me.”
“Luca.”
“It’s from the Moretti Foundation.”
“That is from you.”
“Technically, the board controls it.”
“Who appointed the board?”
“I did.”
Emma glared.
He lifted both hands.
“Fair.”
She looked down at the paper.
Full tuition.
Nursing school.
Books.
Living stipend.
Emma closed the folder.
“I can’t keep taking things from you.”
Luca’s expression softened.
“You never took anything.”
“You paid my debt.”
“I chose to.”
“You built this program.”
“I needed somewhere legitimate to put money that used to fund things I’m not proud of.”
“And the scholarship?”
He leaned forward.
“That one is selfish.”
Emma raised an eyebrow.
“How?”
“I want to know what happens when you finally get the life you were supposed to have.”
For once, Emma had no sarcastic reply.
Luca stood.
“You don’t owe me anything.”
She looked at him.
“You keep saying you owe me.”
“I did.”
“Past tense?”
“Yes.”
“When did the debt disappear?”
Luca glanced around the diner.
“Somewhere between you yelling at me, helping expose my brother, and using a coffee cup to destroy a federal evidence drive.”
“That was you.”
“You approved.”
“I did not.”
“You looked supportive.”
She laughed.
He began walking toward the door.
Emma called after him.
“Luca.”
He turned.
“If I accept the scholarship, there are conditions.”
He smiled.
“Of course there are.”
“You stop trying to repay me.”
“Agreed.”
“You stop sending Salvatore to check whether my car needs repairs.”
“He noticed the brakes.”
“Luca.”
“Fine.”
“And…”
She hesitated.
He waited.
Emma suddenly felt more nervous than she had with four police officers standing ten feet away.
“When you come here…”
“Yes?”
“You don’t always have to sit alone at table eight.”
Luca stared at her.
Then smiled.
“Is that an invitation?”
“It’s a chair.”
“Very romantic.”
“I can revoke it.”
May you like
“I’ll take the chair.”
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