Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
“I know, but if I had been there—”
“Stop, I know this is not my place but if your wife was everything you said, then right now, if she could see you, she’d be hurting for you. It was not your fault. You didn’t cause her death.”
Vincent nodded. “It’s strange, but being around you made me realize that not being near her things, not looking at them, I was allowing her to die. I was not being my best self, and that’s not good. Hiding away was never part of who I was.” He sighed. “I want to put some of her work on the wall. I want to remember her.”
Adelina smiled. “What pieces would you like?”
All of them looked stunning. They were beautiful pieces.
For the next hour, Adelina stayed with Vincent as he went through each picture. This was where Isabella found them, and at first she didn’t even step into the room. She stood at the doorway.
“Do you want any help?” Isabella asked.
“Yeah, you can help us choose some of your mother’s artwork. I’m going to get it framed for the walls downstairs.”
Isabella smiled, and Vincent waved his hand for his daughter to enter.
She watched as the two embraced, and she couldn’t help but smile. They were healing. She hadn’t even realized they were broken, but they were finding each other to heal.
Isabella helped find a couple of paintings, and ten were picked in total. She carried them down to Vincent’s office, where he then started to arrange for them to be framed.
Adelina stepped out of the office and saw Isabella, with a hand on the banister, tears falling. She went to her immediately and wrapped her arms around her.
“Are you okay?” Adelina asked.
“I remember when I wanted to go into that room. It wasn’t long after what happened. Dad wouldn’t let me. It was the first time he had really screamed at me to get out of one of the rooms.” She sighed. “I was so afraid to go there again. I used to, when Mom was painting. I loved to watch her. It feels good being there, and that Dad is going to use some of Mom’s artwork. It’s like she’s finally being remembered. Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You did.”
She hugged her sister-in-law and was just so grateful she could help.
Chapter Ten
“You’re up early,” Adelina said.
Massimo looked toward the bed. It was a little after six in the morning. He had an early appointment with Vigo of the Vigo Bratva, who had finally agreed to a meeting.
“I’ve got lots to do today,” he said. “Are you going to be okay here?”
“Yeah, of course I am. Isabella and I plan to hang out by the pool, and then I think Vincent wants another game of charades. He likes playing games.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, he used to play them with Mom and that all stopped after she passed.”
“He must have been so heartbroken.”
“He was. I think he is finally moving on.”
“He told me yesterday he was happy with me and our marriage,” she said. He saw the smile on her lips and chuckled, moving toward her.
“And you were worried?”
“I didn’t want your dad to hate me.”
“My father is not going to hate you.” He cupped her cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“Is everything okay?” Adelina asked.
He nodded. “Everything is fine.”
“You were quiet last night. Something’s bothering you. You can talk to me, you know. I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“Soon.” He kissed her on the lips, and then left the bedroom. Leaving Adelina was the last thing he wanted to do, but he had to get to the bottom of who was the threat against the Russo Mafia.
He was on his way downstairs, and he should have known his father would already be awake, as he stepped out of his office.
“You’re off again so soon?”
“I’ve got that meeting with Vigo. Thank you for setting it up.”
“Come into my office.”
Time was ticking and Massimo looked toward the front door.
“It will only take a moment.”
Stepping into his father’s office, he looked to see a large note board with five capos’ names on it. He was surprised to see the Ferri name.
“Dad, I don’t have time for this.”
“Look, I know I’ve been out of the game for a while, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing,” he said.
“You think this is an inside job?”
“Vigo wouldn’t go against the Russo Mafia. He is not strong or powerful enough. He doesn’t have what it takes,” Vincent said. “This is a job from the inside.”
“With enough money to be able to waste giving to Gutterman? The same money I sent up in smoke?”
“Unless it was laundered money. Dirty money. Not real money,” Vincent said. “Then it doesn’t matter if you burned it, does it?”
There was one name he kept being drawn to. “Diego Bruno. The man that was going to marry Adelina. How does he play into this? He doesn’t do anything.”