Chapter 6 - Gabriel’s Choice
Anthony arrived at Il Canto two nights later believing Beatrice had suffered permanent memory problems.
Gabriel's lieutenants sat around Table 7.
Chloe served drinks.
Anthony relaxed when he saw her.
“You're still here?”
“Apparently.”
Gabriel entered.
“My mother doesn't remember the night she collapsed.”
Anthony's shoulders loosened.
“That's unfortunate.”
“Very.”
Gabriel sat.
“But she remembered something else.”
Anthony's smile faded.
Gabriel opened a folder.
“Three million dollars.”
Nobody moved.
“Missing from my warehouses over eighteen months.”
Anthony looked around.
“Boss, I can explain.”
“Please.”
“Victor handled those accounts.”
“Victor's dead.”
“Exactly.”
Gabriel leaned back.
“Convenient.”
Anthony's eyes moved toward the doors.
Two men blocked them.
Chloe quietly stepped backward.
Anthony pointed at her.
“This started when she came around.”
Gabriel looked at Chloe.
Anthony continued.
“Some waitress walks into your life, suddenly your mother accuses your people, your accounts are questioned—”
“My mother didn't expose you.”
Anthony stopped.
Gabriel's eyes hardened.
“You just did.”
Silence.
Anthony realized his mistake.
Gabriel hadn't said Beatrice had accused him.
Anthony had assumed it.
“Gabriel—”
“Sit down.”
“I've served you fifteen years.”
“And stole from me for two.”
“I protected you!”
“You poisoned my mother.”
Anthony's face changed.
“She was an old deaf woman who saw too much!”
The words escaped before he could stop them.
The room went dead.
Then the mahogany doors opened.
Beatrice stood there.
She had understood none of Anthony's spoken confession.
But Chloe stood beside her.
Signing every word.
Anthony stared at them.
Gabriel rose.
“You forgot something.”
Anthony swallowed.
“What?”
“My mother has a voice now.”
Gabriel looked toward his men.
“Take him out.”
Anthony was escorted away, shouting.
Gabriel did not follow.
Instead, he walked toward Beatrice.
His mother touched his face.
Gabriel signed:
It's over.
Beatrice answered:
No.
He frowned.
What?
She pointed toward Chloe.
Tell her.
Chloe immediately shook her head.
“No.”
Gabriel looked confused.
“Tell you what?”
“Nothing.”
Beatrice crossed her arms.
Gabriel stared at his mother.
“Ma.”
Beatrice signed directly to him.
This time he understood every word.
Gabriel looked at Chloe.
For perhaps the first time in his life, the feared Gabriel Costello looked genuinely nervous.
“Dinner.”
Chloe blinked.
“What?”
“Have dinner with me.”
“We've had dinner together.”
“You were working.”
“Usually because I'm a waitress.”
“I mean a date.”
The room became extraordinarily quiet.
Chloe glanced at the armed men pretending not to listen.
“This is your timing?”
Gabriel shrugged.
“My mother threatened me.”
Beatrice nodded proudly.
Chloe laughed.
“One dinner.”
Gabriel smiled.
“One.”
Beatrice raised two fingers.
May you like
Gabriel sighed.
“Stay out of it, Ma.”
