Chapter 11 - The Morning Sun
The sun began to rise over the Chicago skyline, casting a warm golden light through the massive windows of the Moretti mansion.
The estate was finally quiet.
The police had left hours ago, taking statements and hauling away the men who had torn this family apart.
I sat in the massive, opulent kitchen, a thick blanket wrapped around my shoulders. Across the marble island, my mother was gently feeding Leo a bowl of warm oatmeal.
He was wearing an oversized t-shirt that used to belong to Michael.
“Is it yummy, Toby?” my mother asked softly, still using the name she had given him.
Leo nodded enthusiastically. “It’s good, Nana.”
My heart ached with a strange mixture of joy and sorrow. He was safe. But our lives would never be the same.
The heavy kitchen doors pushed open, and Luca walked in.
He had changed out of his ruined suit. He wore a simple grey sweater, his left arm resting in a dark sling provided by the paramedics. He looked exhausted, older, but his eyes were brighter than I had ever seen them.
Michael trailed behind him, carrying two cups of black coffee.
Luca stopped at the island and looked at my mother.
“Mrs. Carter,” Luca said softly.
My mother immediately stood up, looking terrified. “Mr. Moretti, I swear to you, I didn’t know. If I had known he was your son—”
Luca held up his good hand to stop her.
He walked around the island and did something I never expected.
He hugged her.
He wrapped his massive, tattooed arm around my small, fragile mother and held her tightly.
“You kept him safe,” Luca whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “You loved him when he had no one. You gave him a home. I owe you my life.”
My mother broke down into quiet sobs, hugging him back.
Luca pulled away and looked down at Leo.
“Hello, Leo,” Luca smiled.
“Hello,” the boy replied through a mouthful of oatmeal. “Nana says I have a new name.”
“You do,” Luca laughed softly. “But you can still be Toby if you want.”
Luca turned to me.
“Emily.”
I stood up, nervously pulling the blanket tighter. “Yes, Mr. Moretti?”
“Sit down,” he instructed gently.
I sat. He sat across from me, his dark eyes studying my face.
“You stood between a loaded gun and my brother,” Luca said. “You figured out the truth. You saved my family tonight.”
“I was just trying to keep my job,” I joked weakly.
Luca didn’t laugh. He reached into his pocket and placed something on the marble counter.
It was the emerald clover bracelet.
“The police found this in Vanessa’s belongings,” Luca said, pushing it across the counter toward my mother. “It belongs to you.”
My mother gasped, touching the cold green stones. “My bracelet.”
“And as for you, Emily,” Luca continued, looking back at me.
“You’re fired.”
My heart stopped. “What?”
Michael chuckled from the corner of the room, sipping his coffee.
“You are no longer a housemaid in this home,” Luca said, his tone turning completely serious. “My son needs a tutor. He needs someone who speaks Italian, someone who is brave, and someone he trusts. And my brother needs an assistant who isn’t afraid to yell at him when he’s being an idiot.”
May you like
Michael raised his coffee cup in agreement.
“I want you to manage my son’s education and help Michael run the restaurant. The one we are keeping,” Luca said. “And I want you and your mother to move into the guest house. Permanently. Rent-free. With a salary that will ensure you never have to worry about bills again.”
