Chapter 10 - THE BREAKFAST
The sun was shining brightly through the massive bay windows of the Moretti estate kitchen.
It was Saturday morning. The day that was supposed to be the wedding.
Instead of catering to hundreds of demanding, fake guests, I was sitting at the wooden island, wearing comfortable jeans and a soft sweater.
My mother sat beside me, sipping tea, looking more relaxed than she had in decades. Dorothy was at the stove, aggressively flipping pancakes and arguing with Luca about how to properly season bacon.
“You’re burning it, boy,” Dorothy scolded, waving a spatula at the feared mafia boss.
Luca, wearing a casual grey t-shirt, just laughed and held his hands up in surrender. “Yes, ma'am.”
Leo ran into the kitchen, wearing a superhero cape, and crashed into my legs. “Aunt Kate! Aunt Kate, look!”
He held up a new drawing. This one was in bright, happy colors. It showed me, Luca, Leo, Dorothy, and my mother, all standing in front of the house.
My heart swelled. I pulled the little boy into my lap and hugged him tightly. “It’s beautiful, Leo. I love it.”
For the first time in my life, I wasn't worried about rent. I wasn't terrified of dropping a silver platter. I wasn't hiding bruises under a maid’s uniform.
I belonged here.
Luca walked over and set a plate of bacon on the table. He sat on the stool next to me, watching his nephew color on the back of a napkin.
“The police finished clearing out Vanessa’s apartment,” Luca said quietly, so only I could hear. “They found her father’s burner phones. The cartel connections are fully exposed. The Bellini family is finished.”
I nodded, feeling a profound sense of closure. “And the wedding guests?”
“I had Jennifer cancel the caterers and send the flowers to a local hospital,” Luca smiled. “But I kept the band. I thought we could have a barbecue in the backyard tonight. Just us.”
I smiled back. It sounded perfect.
After breakfast, my mother and Dorothy took Leo out to the gardens to play. Luca and I stayed in the kitchen, washing the dishes. It felt incredibly domestic. So normal.
“There’s something I need to give you,” Luca said, wiping his hands on a towel.
He walked into his study and returned a moment later, holding a small, sealed envelope. The paper was yellowed with age.
“When the police opened the safety deposit box to catalog the evidence against Vanessa,” Luca explained, “they found this tucked under the felt lining at the bottom. My father must have left it there before he died.”
He handed it to me.
My hands trembled as I took it. Written on the front, in faded black ink, was my name.
To Katherine.
I carefully tore the envelope open. Inside was a single piece of lined paper, covered in hurried, messy handwriting.
My dearest Kate,
If you are reading this, I am gone. I have done terrible things in my life, things I cannot undo. I could not be a father to you, and for that, I will suffer in hell. But I need you to know one thing. The money, the violence, the syndicate… it is a curse. Do not let it claim you. Do not let it claim your brother. Look after Luca. He has a good heart, but he carries my sins.
I loved your mother. I loved you.
Dad.
May you like
A tear slipped down my cheek and splashed onto the paper.
Luca put his arm around my shoulder, pulling me close. We stood there in the quiet kitchen, two siblings who had been separated by a lifetime of secrets, finally brought together.
