Page 56 of Brutal Legacy

He tilted his head to the side. “So, you have a code of some sort, then? I could be forgiven for thinking that you didn’t. The boy who tried to steal, got caught, and was given a lenient sentence… only to seduce the daughter of the man who saved him.”

“I didn’t set out to seduce her. We fell in love.”

Alfredo gave a heavy sigh. “I suppose I should just be thankful that you want to marry her. Too many men don’t like to take responsibility these days… they don’t want a wife at your age.”

It seemed like a low bar to pass under, but I wasn’t going to say anything to discourage him from accepting the idea.

“What really bothers me, however, is the disrespect. If you love a woman, you should respect her father.”

“I do respect you,procuratore.”

“Why don’t you show me just how much? I don’t want a son-in-law who isn’t going to work in the best interests of my family… I need to trust you.”

“I’ll do anything,” I said, another immediate response.

“I’ve heard that before.” Bellisario stood. “I’ll think about what you can do for me to prove yourself. Georgia wouldn’t like it if we were at odds, so let’s try to get along.” Alfredo looked at me. “I’ve never had a son. I’ve always hoped that the man who Georgia picked could feel like that to me…”

“I’d like that, too,procuratore.”

He nodded slowly. “Let me think about all of this. Go back to work, and I’ll be in touch when I think of a way we can become closer… build trust.”

I headed for the door. My palms were sweating, and I needed to drink about a gallon of water, but I’d done it, and I was leaving intact. It was more than I’d ever hoped for.

“Oh, and Santori?” Alfredo called.

I stopped on the threshold of the doorway.

“Georgia’s fabric delivery came in, and someone collected it in error. She needs to pick it up, so let her know. I’m afraid our little meeting has set my schedule back today.”

“I’ll go and get it, procuratore,” I said, closing the door and walking down the hall feeling like I’d just survived a firing squad.

I decidedto go and get Georgia’s delivery before I went back to work. I needed to make Alfredo like me. It wasn’t for me. I couldn’t have cared less what the man thought of me, but Georgia cared, so that meant I cared. I’d told her I would take care of everything, and I meant to.

I cut through town, a whistle on my lips and a spring in my step. Swinging by the post office, I found out that the delivery had gone to the De Sanctis house by accident. The walk to the De Sanctis summer estate was a good five miles. I didn’t see a single car going in my direction, so I was stuck walking. The day was warm, and my mood was light. I was marrying Georgia. The very idea thrilled me every time I thought of it. I was marrying the love of my life.

For a gutter rat from Napoli, it was a good ending, after all. Who’d have thought?

I madeit to the estate and went in the side entrance. I was used to using it to run messages between the houses. I’d been working for Alfredo Bellisario nearly half a year, and I’d gotten to know more about the family who summered in Castel Amaro. Salvatore De Sanctis was Mafia royalty. Renato, the heir, lived in America some of the time and occasionally came here to work under his uncle.

I headed through the gardens, toward the kitchens.

There was security everywhere, from the black-suited guards who patrolled the gardens, to the CCTV cameras sitting on top of every wall.

I was a familiar face to the security detail at this point and was allowed in. When I stepped into the kitchen, I found it deserted, a rare occurrence.

“Ah, Ms. Bellisario’s things are by the fridge,” a harried staff member called to me as he bustled through the room. “And take the bag, too, it’s from Mr. De Sanctis forProcuratoreBellisario. You’ll save me a trip later.”

I found the bag and package easily enough. I’d moved quite a few packages between the two houses. I never peeked to see what was in them. De Sanctis business wasn’t something I wanted to get caught up in. I was just a messenger.

I grabbed the box and the leather duffel and made for the door.

I headed back through the gardens and out onto the road. It was dusty, and the hills around us were sun-bleached andyellow. In the far distance, I could see the sparkling blue of the Mediterranean. Maybe I’d take Georgia to the beach. If I worked hard this year and proved myself to Alfredo, maybe I could get a real job in town and apply to get my sister back. We could all live together in a little house overlooking the sea.

I was halfway back to town when the blue lights appeared.

Carabiniericars, speeding down the road toward me. I stepped to the side and waited for them to pass. The leather duffel suddenly felt as heavy as a tombstone slung over my shoulder. I was being paranoid. I’d seen how the police bent over backward for the infamous Mafia family. No one would investigate Bellisario or De Sanctis here. They were gods.

The cars got closer. Sweat slicked the back of my neck, a sudden and terrible foreboding hitting me in the gut.Were they angling toward me?

---