Chapter 7 - THE DEBT REPAID
I stared at the heavy envelope in my lap.
“Mr. Bellini... I can’t accept this. It’s too much.”
Marco placed his hand gently over mine, stopping me from handing it back.
“Your father risked his life to make sure the evidence of my father’s murder survived. Because of him, my family finally has peace. Forty thousand dollars is nothing compared to that.”
I looked up into his dark eyes. The stern, terrifying mafia boss was gone. In his place was a man who understood loyalty better than anyone.
“Thank you,” I whispered, wiping my eyes.
Marco smiled, a genuine, breathtaking smile. “Take the day off, Olivia. Go tell your father his shop is safe.”
I stood up, clutching the envelope to my chest.
I took the train to Trenton.
When I walked into the dusty, oil-stained garage, my father was sitting on an overturned bucket, his face buried in his hands.
“Dad,” I said softly.
He looked up, his eyes red and exhausted. “Livvy. What are you doing here? You should be working.”
I knelt down in front of him and handed him the envelope.
He opened it. He read the deed.
Then he looked at me, his hands shaking wildly. “How? Olivia, what did you do?”
“A good man paid a twenty-year-old debt, Dad.”
My father broke down crying. He pulled me into a tight hug, smelling of motor oil and relief.
The nightmare was finally over.
When I returned to the mansion that evening, the house was quiet.
I changed back into my maid’s uniform and walked toward the kitchen to start dinner preparations.
But as I passed the main living room, I heard music playing softly. An old jazz record.
I peeked inside.
Helen was sitting in a plush armchair, knitting.
Daniel was on the rug, helping Leo build a towering block castle.
And Marco was standing by the fireplace, a glass of bourbon in his hand, watching them.
He looked at peace.
He caught me standing in the doorway.
“Olivia,” he called out.
I stepped into the room. “Yes, Mr. Bellini. I was just going to start dinner.”
“Stop calling me Mr. Bellini,” Marco said gently.
He walked over to me, setting his glass on the mantel.
“I spoke with the household manager today,” Marco said.
My heart skipped a beat. Had I done something wrong?
“I’m relieving you of your duties as a housemaid.”
I blinked, confused and suddenly panicked. “Are you firing me?”
Daniel looked up from the blocks and chuckled softly.
Marco reached out and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. The touch sent a warm shiver down my spine.
“No, Olivia. But you aren't going to wear that uniform anymore. I want you to stay here. I want you to run the charitable foundation my father started. You have the heart for it. And...”
He stepped slightly closer.
“And I want you by my side.”
I looked up into his eyes, seeing the raw vulnerability hiding beneath his confident exterior.
“Marco,” I whispered.
“You saw me at my worst,” he murmured. “You saw my family falling apart. And you stayed. You fought for us.”
He reached into his pocket.
He didn't pull out a ring. It was too soon for that.
He pulled out a small, delicate silver bracelet.
“My mother wore this every day,” Marco said. “She gave it to Helen before she died. Helen gave it to me this morning. She said I would know who to give it to.”
He gently clasped the cool silver around my wrist.
I looked down at the heirloom, tears filling my eyes again.
Then I looked up, rising onto my tiptoes.
I kissed him.
Marco wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest, returning the kiss with a fierce, quiet passion.
Across the room, little Leo clapped his hands as his block tower finally fell.
Daniel laughed, pulling his son into a hug.
Helen smiled, her knitting resting in her lap.
I pulled away from Marco, resting my forehead against his chest. I listened to his steady heartbeat, feeling safer than I had in my entire life.
The lies were gone. The enemies were vanquished.
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The Bellini family was whole again.
And finally, so was I.
