Chapter 8 - THE JUDGMENT
Adrian froze. He slowly unclasped the heavy gold watch from his wrist. It was a gift from Luca, given to him when they opened their first restaurant together. A symbol of their brotherhood.
Adrian handed it over, his head bowed. "I'm sorry, Luca."
Luca took the watch and put it in his pocket.
"You let a woman manipulate you. You let fear control you. You lied to your wife, and you nearly got us all killed." Luca's voice was devoid of anger, which made it all the more terrifying. "You are out of the business. You are out of the family."
Adrian nodded, a tear slipping down his nose. "I understand."
"But," Luca continued, turning to look at Allison. "I do not punish children for the sins of their fathers. And I do not abandon women who show more courage in five minutes than most men show in a lifetime."
Luca stepped toward Allison. "Adrian’s shares in the family business are hereby transferred to you, Allison. You will have total financial control. What you choose to do with him—whether you divorce him, exile him, or forgive him—is your decision."
Allison stared at Luca, completely stunned.
Adrian looked at his wife, hope and devastation warring in his eyes.
Allison looked down at Leo, who was holding tightly to Adrian's pant leg. She took a deep breath.
"Adrian will move into the guest house," Allison said quietly. "He will seek counseling. He will earn back my trust, if that's even possible. But Leo stays in the main house with me. He will not grow up feeling like a mistake."
Adrian broke down completely, burying his face in his hands. "Thank you, Allie. Thank you."
Luca nodded respectfully. "A wise decision."
The tension in the room finally broke, leaving behind a heavy, exhausted silence. The night had been a hurricane, and we were the survivors standing in the wreckage.
Then, Luca turned toward me.
"Emily."
I stiffened. "Yes, sir."
"You struck an armed man with a serving tray. You guided my men through pitch-black tunnels. You carried a child out of a burning building."
"I was just trying to help, sir."
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"You were paid fifteen dollars an hour tonight," Luca said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out Adrian's gold watch. He held it out to me.
"I don't need a maid, Emily," Luca said, his eyes locking onto mine. "I need people I can trust with my life. Starting tomorrow, you are my new head of household security. And your mother’s medical bills are paid in full."
