Chapter 5 - MIDNIGHT AT THE KITCHEN TABLE
The kitchen light cast a harsh yellow glow over the formica table.
Matteo cleaned an old Beretta pistol he had kept hidden beneath the floorboards.
The metallic click of the slide filled the quiet room.
Lena poured two cups of black coffee.
She set one down beside his right hand.
“You promised me,” she said softly.
“I know.”
“You promised we were done with blood.”
Matteo stopped cleaning the weapon.
He looked up at her.
“Blood doesn't finish with us, Lena.”
“It just waits.”
“If we run, they’ll hunt us forever.”
“Then we don't run,” Lena said, her voice steadying.
Matteo frowned.
“What are you saying?”
“You stopped running three years ago for me.”
“Now we stop running for us.”
Before Matteo could answer, a brick smashed through the living room window.
Glass showered across the hardwood floor.
Attached to the brick was a heavy leather pouch tied with red twine.
Matteo stood instantly, shoving Lena behind his back.
He kicked the kitchen door shut and drew his pistol.
Slowly, he walked into the dark living room.
He untied the red twine.
Inside the pouch lay a single silver ring.
The signet ring of Dante Moretti’s primary enforcer.
May you like
And a note written in elegant cursive.
“Dinner at the Grand Hotel tomorrow night. Bring the wife.”
