Chapter 5 - The Dinner Victor Vitale Never Expected
Emergency lights flickered on.
Mateo immediately moved Norah away from the windows.
Carmelo reached for his phone.
“Security.”
Mateo listened.
“Backup generator was disabled.”
Norah whispered, “Victor?”
“Probably.”
Carmelo smiled.
“Good.”
Norah stared.
“Good?”
“Now he is frightened.”
Within minutes, Mateo’s security team secured the building.
Nobody entered.
Nothing was taken.
The blackout had been a warning.
By morning, Mateo had made his decision.
“We aren't going to the pier.”
Carmelo frowned.
“We should.”
“No.”
“Coward.”
Mateo stared at him.
“That's exactly what Victor wants.”
Norah poured coffee.
Carmelo pointed toward her.
“Ask the girl.”
Mateo sighed.
“She is a waitress, Papa.”
Norah looked offended.
“Yesterday that was apparently enough qualification to solve your family problems.”
Carmelo laughed.
Mateo looked at her.
“Fine. What would you do?”
Norah sat.
“Victor wants the box.”
“Yes.”
“He doesn't know how many copies exist.”
“No.”
“He also doesn't know exactly what you know.”
Mateo's expression changed.
Norah continued.
“So make him talk.”
Carmelo leaned forward.
“How?”
“Dinner.”
Mateo stared.
Norah gestured around them.
“Your family solves everything in dark warehouses?”
Carmelo almost looked embarrassed.
“Sometimes restaurants.”
“Perfect.”
That evening, Lombra closed to the public.
Victor Vitale arrived at nine.
He was sixty, elegant, silver-haired, and smiling.
The smile disappeared when he saw Norah sitting beside Carmelo.
“The waitress.”
Norah nodded.
“The thief.”
Mateo coughed to hide a laugh.
Victor sat.
“Where is the box?”
Mateo placed it on the table.
Victor reached.
Carmelo lowered his hand over the lid.
“First we talk.”
Victor looked at him.
“About what?”
“Your father.”
“My father has been dead thirty years.”
“And still causing problems.”
Victor's jaw tightened.
Mateo placed copies of company records on the table.
“You've moved money through seven dormant companies.”
Victor didn't touch them.
“You can't prove that.”
Norah placed Vincenzo's notebook beside the documents.
“Actually, that's the interesting part.”
Victor looked at her.
“You don't understand what you're holding.”
“No.”
She smiled.
“But accountants do.”
Mateo added, “Three of them have copies.”
Victor’s confidence slipped.
Carmelo leaned forward.
“Why?”
Victor looked at the old man.
“Because you built everything on lies.”
“No.”
“You protected Vincenzo.”
“Yes.”
“My father lost everything.”
“Your father betrayed us.”
“You humiliated him!”
Carmelo slammed his palm down.
“He sold his friends!”
Victor stood.
“And you forgave the baker!”
“Vincenzo saved my life!”
Silence.
Norah looked at Carmelo.
That part was new.
Carmelo's voice dropped.
“Your father led men to our house. Vincenzo discovered it. He could have killed Salvatore.”
“But he didn't.”
“No.”
Carmelo looked toward Norah.
“He sent him away.”
Victor laughed bitterly.
“And my family lived with shame.”
“Your father created that shame.”
Norah spoke quietly.
“Not mine.”
Victor turned.
“Excuse me?”
“My grandfather specifically asked Carmelo not to punish you for your father's choices.”
Victor stared.
Norah tapped the letter.
“You spent your entire life avenging a punishment that never happened.”
Victor's face changed.
For one second, he looked less dangerous than lost.
Then he reached suddenly for the box.
Mateo caught his wrist.
Nobody else moved.
Mateo spoke quietly.
“Don't.”
Victor looked around.
Carmelo's guards were already standing.
Victor slowly sat.
Mateo released him.
“It's over.”
Victor laughed.
“You think paperwork ends this?”
“No.”
Mateo leaned closer.
“But your own partners might.”
The restaurant doors opened.
Three men entered.
Victor went pale.
His business partners.
Mateo had shown them everything.
One placed a folder on the table.
“We've frozen the accounts.”
Another said, “You're finished, Victor.”
Victor looked at Carmelo.
“You planned this.”
Carmelo shook his head.
“The waitress did.”
Everyone looked at Norah.
She blinked.
“I suggested dinner.”
Carmelo smiled.
“Never ruin a good story with details.”
Victor was escorted away.
Norah finally exhaled.
“Is it over?”
Mateo looked at his father.
Carmelo nodded.
“It is now.”
Norah stood.
“Great.”
Mateo frowned.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
Carmelo looked horrified.
“Home?”
“I have work tomorrow.”
“You saved my family.”
“I served wine and found photographs.”
“You insulted Victor.”
“That part was free.”
Mateo smiled.
“Norah.”
She looked at him.
“Stay for dinner.”
Her expression softened slightly.
“Are you asking or ordering?”
“Definitely asking.”
Carmelo interrupted.
“He is terrible with women.”
“Papa.”
“I am helping.”
May you like
Norah laughed.
And for the first time in years, Mateo Valente found himself nervous around someone who wasn't afraid of him.
