Chapter 5 - THE ROSARY OF BETRAYAL
"Paulie?" Vincent’s voice cracked. "My father's brother?"
"He’s been running the shadow operations for decades," Thomas explained, his tone flat but his eyes blazing. "When I was ten, I found out they were moving drugs through the family's legitimate businesses. Our father and Paulie. I threatened to tell the police. I was a stupid kid. So, they got rid of me."
Rose, who had been helped upstairs by the guards, leaned heavily against the doorframe. "No," she wept. "Your father loved you, Nico. He wouldn't."
Thomas looked at his mother. "He loved the empire more. And when Arthur offered a merger, they used my 'kidnapping' to secure Arthur's loyalty."
I stood in the corner, shivering. I thought of my own family—my mom setting an empty cup for my dad out of pure love. To realize a family could be built on such vicious betrayal made my stomach turn.
Vincent gripped the silver rosary so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"Where is Paulie?" Vincent demanded.
"The old shipping yard," Thomas said. "Pier 44. It's the only place secure enough."
Vincent turned to his men. "Arm everyone. We're going to war."
"Wait," Thomas grabbed his arm. "If you roll in there with an army, Paulie will kill Leo immediately. He knows you're coming."
"Then what do we do?" Vincent yelled, losing his icy composure for the first time. "He has my son!"
"We need a distraction," Thomas said. "Someone Paulie wouldn't expect. Someone harmless."
Slowly, both men turned to look at me.
I shrank back against the wall.
"No," Vincent said immediately. "Emily is a civilian. She works in the kitchen. I won't put her in danger."
"Paulie knows all your men," Thomas argued. "He knows your face. He knows mine. But he doesn't know her. She can walk right up to the gate claiming she was sent to deliver something from Bianca."
"It's suicide!" Vincent snapped.
I looked at the stuffed bear on the floor. I thought of little Leo, who always asked me for extra chocolate chips in his cookies. Who asked me if angels were real because he missed his mom.
"I'll do it," I said.
Both men stopped arguing.
"Emily, you don't have to do this," Vincent said, his voice surprisingly gentle.
"I need my job, Mr. Romano," I lied, trying to sound brave. "And Leo needs his dad."
Thomas reached into his pocket and handed me a small, heavy object wrapped in a cloth.
"Give this to the guard at the gate," Thomas said. "Tell him Bianca sent it as proof that the engagement is off."
I unwrapped the cloth.
It was Bianca’s diamond engagement ring.
"When the guard takes it to Paulie," Thomas said, "that gives us three minutes to breach the back door."
I nodded, slipping the ring into my pocket.
But as I turned to leave, Rose caught my hand.
"Emily," the old woman whispered. She pressed something cold into my palm.
It was a small, ornate key.
May you like
"What is this?" I asked.
Rose’s eyes were dark with a secret she had kept for decades. "If you see my husband... if he really is alive... give this to him. He'll know what it means."
