Chapter 5 - THE MORNING RECKONING
The sun rose over Boston,
painting the city in shades of cold gold.
I woke up to the sound of Luca giggling.
I opened my eyes to see Giovanni holding him.
The mafia boss,
the man who struck fear into the hearts of senators,
was making a silly face at a seven-month-old.
Luca was reaching for Giovanni’s nose,
his tiny fingers poking the skin.
“He likes you,”
I said,
my voice scratchy from sleep.
Giovanni didn't look away from our son.
“He knows his own kind,”
he replied.
He sat down on the edge of the bed,
carefully supporting Luca’s head.
“The fever is completely gone.”
“The doctor said we can leave at noon.”
I sat up,
rubbing my eyes.
“Good.
I want to go home.”
“You are going home,”
Giovanni said.
“But not to the apartment.”
I felt the tension return.
“Giovanni,
don’t.”
“Lauren,
the news is out.”
He handed me a tablet.
The headline of the Boston Chronicle was a photo of the helicopter on the roof.
MORETTI’S SECRET HEIR REVEALED IN EMERGENCY DRAMA.
There was a grainy photo of me running into the ER.
“They’ll be waiting outside the hospital,”
Giovanni said.
“They’ll follow you.”
“They’ll find out where you live,
where you shop,
where Luca’s daycare is.”
I looked at the photo,
feeling a sense of vertigo.
My quiet,
invisible life was gone.
“You could have stopped the press,”
I accused.
“I could have,”
he admitted.
“But it wouldn't have mattered for long.”
“The secret was too big.”
“And I’m tired of hiding my son like he’s something to be ashamed of.”
“He wasn't hidden,
Giovanni.”
“He was safe.”
“He wasn't safe,
Lauren.”
“He was vulnerable.”
He handed Luca back to me.
“We leave through the underground garage.”
“My estate in the North End is ready.”
“It has a nursery,
a playground,
and twenty-four-hour security.”
“I’m not moving into your house,”
I said,
clutching Luca.
“Then move into the guest house,”
he offered,
his voice surprisingly patient.
“It’s separate.”
“It has its own entrance.”
“But it’s within the walls.”
“Please,
Lauren.”
“Do it for him.”
I looked down at Luca.
He was looking at me with those wide,
gray eyes.
Moretti eyes.
I knew Giovanni was right about the danger.
I knew his world wouldn't let us go now.
“Only until the news dies down,”
I said.
Giovanni nodded,
but I saw the triumph in his eyes.
May you like
He knew that once we were inside his walls,
he would never let us leave again.
