Chapter 9 - THE LETTER
The words on the white envelope read:
For Sophie. On her 18th Birthday.
Sophie stared at the envelope. Her hands began to tremble violently.
Her eighteenth birthday was exactly three weeks away.
“He wrote this before he died,” I whispered, touching the worn edge of the paper. “He must have given it to Don Moretti for safekeeping.”
Sophie looked at me, her blue eyes wide and terrified.
“Open it, baby,” I encouraged softly. “He wanted you to read it.”
She carefully slid her finger under the flap and tore it open.
Inside was a single sheet of lined notebook paper, folded in thirds. And tucked inside the fold was a small, heavy object on a delicate silver chain.
A silver locket.
Sophie pulled the locket out first. It caught the dim light of the study, gleaming brightly. She clasped it in her palm, pressing it against her heart.
Then, she unfolded the paper.
She took a deep breath, and began to read aloud, her voice wavering with every word.
“My dearest Sophie,” she read.
“If you are reading this, it means I am not there to see you blow out your candles. It means the worst has happened, and I couldn't protect you and your mother the way I promised I would.”
A tear slipped off Sophie’s chin and landed on the paper.
“I’m writing this sitting in my truck outside the South Side site. I found something bad today, Soph. Really bad. The men building this place are cutting corners, and if I don't stop them, innocent people are going to get hurt.”
I closed my eyes, picturing him sitting in the cab of his beat-up Ford, gripping a pen with his calloused hands.
“I know the Bellinis are coming for me,” Sophie continued reading, her voice breaking. “I can feel it. I’ve hidden the evidence, but I don't know if I’ll make it out of this. I just want you to know one thing before you become an adult.”
She paused, wiping her eyes. Luca handed her a linen handkerchief from his pocket. She took it, nodded her thanks, and looked back at the letter.
“Never let anyone tell you that you are a burden. Never let anyone make you feel small. I am fighting these monsters today because I want to build a world where you can go to college, wear beautiful dresses, and be anything you want to be. You are my greatest achievement.”
Sophie sobbed, clutching the letter to her chest.
“I love you. Take care of your mother. She is the strongest woman I’ve ever known. And when you graduate college, open the silver locket. It holds the key to your future. Love, Dad.”
Sophie collapsed into my arms.
We held each other in the middle of the study, completely surrounded by the ghosts of the past, finally finding peace.
Mark hadn't abandoned us. He had fought for us until his very last breath.
After a long time, Sophie pulled back.
She sniffled, wiping her nose with Luca’s handkerchief.
She looked down at the silver locket resting in the palm of her hand.
She ran her thumb over the smooth metal.
“He said to open it when I graduate college,” Sophie whispered.
I smiled through my tears. “Then you have four years of hard work ahead of you, sweetheart.”
Luca cleared his throat softly.
He was leaning against his father’s desk, looking at the two of us. The hardened mafia boss, the man who had just dismantled an empire, looked remarkably gentle.
“Claire,” Luca said. “You’ve worked for my family for eleven years. But as of tonight, you are no longer a housemaid.”
I blinked. “Sir?”
“My mother needs an Estate Manager,” Luca smiled. “Someone to oversee the staff, manage the finances, and ensure nobody ever treats my employees the way Vanessa treated you. The salary is six figures. Full benefits. And you’ll work standard business hours so you can go home to your new house every night.”
I gasped, covering my mouth. “Mr. Moretti... I... I don't know what to say.”
“Say yes,” Teresa chimed in, smiling warmly.
“Yes,” I breathed. “Yes, absolutely.”
Luca nodded in satisfaction. He looked at his watch.
It was eight-thirty.
May you like
He looked at Sophie, who was still wearing her blue satin dress, though it was slightly wrinkled from the evening’s chaos.
“Sophie,” Luca said. “What time does the senior prom end?”
