Chapter 5 - The Trap
Anthony Bellini chose an empty restaurant on the waterfront.
I laughed when Dante told me.
“Apparently everyone in this city handles murder over dinner.”
“You're not going.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No.”
“You said I'm not your prisoner.”
“This is different.”
“How?”
“He wants you.”
“Exactly.”
Dante stared at me.
Then I explained.
“If Bellini thinks I'm frightened and alone, he'll talk.”
“He may kill you.”
“Not if you're listening.”
Dante hated the plan.
Which was precisely why he eventually agreed.
At nine that night, I entered the restaurant alone.
Anthony Bellini sat at a table near the windows.
Sofia sat beside him.
“Eleanor,” Anthony said.
“Mr. Bellini.”
“Sit.”
I did.
Sofia smiled.
“You look tired.”
“People keep trying to kill me.”
Anthony poured wine.
I didn't touch it.
“You've caused considerable trouble.”
“I spilled water.”
“You humiliated my family.”
“Your employee carried a poisoned syringe into my restaurant.”
Anthony smiled.
“Dante was becoming inconvenient.”
“And Sofia?”
I looked at her.
“Was she inconvenient too?”
Sofia's smile disappeared.
Anthony glanced at his daughter.
That was interesting.
I leaned forward.
“You weren't going to let Dante marry her, were you?”
Anthony said nothing.
“You needed her close to him.”
Sofia looked toward her father.
“Dad?”
I continued.
“Once Dante was dead, what happened to Sofia?”
“Enough,” Anthony said.
But Sofia was staring at him.
“You said we would leave.”
Anthony ignored her.
“Dante Russo has controlled East Harbor too long.”
“And you thought killing him would give it to you.”
“It will.”
“No.”
Dante’s voice came from the darkness behind us.
Anthony stood.
Dante emerged through the kitchen entrance with Vincent and several men.
Sofia backed away from her father.
Anthony looked furious.
“You stupid girl.”
Sofia stared at him.
“You were going to blame me.”
Anthony's silence answered her.
Dante approached.
“This ends tonight.”
Anthony laughed.
“You think you've won because a waitress overheard a conversation?”
“No.”
Dante looked toward me.
“I won because everyone around me was looking for threats from powerful men.”
His gaze returned to Anthony.
“She looked at people nobody else noticed.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Anthony's face changed.
“You called the police?”
I raised my hand.
“That was me.”
Dante looked at me.
“You did what?”
“You said no killing.”
“I said no such thing.”
“You were thinking it very loudly.”
Even Vincent laughed.
Police entered moments later.
Anthony Bellini was arrested based on Marco’s testimony, surveillance records, financial evidence Vincent had collected, and the recording of our conversation.
Sofia agreed to cooperate.
Outside, Dante turned toward me.
“You called the police without telling me.”
“Yes.”
“You used yourself as bait.”
“Yes.”
“You ignored everything I told you.”
“Yes.”
He stared at me.
Then suddenly laughed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Dante.”
He stepped closer.
“I've spent my entire life surrounded by people afraid to disagree with me.”
“Sounds unhealthy.”
“It was peaceful.”
I smiled.
“You're welcome.”
His expression changed.
His hand touched my cheek.
This time, neither of us moved away.
“Eleanor.”
“Yes?”
“You're going to ruin my life.”
I smiled.
“Probably.”
May you like
Then he kissed me.
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