Chapter 5 - The Mafia Boss Makes A Choice That Shocks All Of Chicago
The next forty-eight hours became a war.
Not the kind seen on television.
No sirens.
No dramatic explosions.
Just phones ringing.
Cars moving through the city.
Businesses suddenly closing.
People refusing to answer doors.
Power changing hands in silence.
Evelyn had never understood how much of Chicago Matteo DeLuca could touch.
Now she did.
And it frightened her.
His men found Richard's office empty.
They found a hidden safe.
Inside was a single photograph.
Evelyn's mother.
Pregnant.
Standing beside Richard.
Evelyn stared at it.
"She knew."
Matteo stood beside her.
"Probably."
"But why?"
The answer came from the back of the photo.
A handwritten sentence.
He cannot be allowed to inherit the ledger.
Evelyn's hands trembled.
"Who is 'he'?"
Matteo looked at her.
"You."
Silence.
"What?"
"Your father wasn't protecting the evidence from the Hawthornes."
"Then from whom?"
"Richard."
Evelyn stared.
"My uncle?"
Matteo nodded.
"Your mother discovered that Richard was selling information to the syndicate."
Evelyn's breath stopped.
"She wanted to expose him."
"And she died."
"An accident."
Matteo did not answer.
Evelyn looked at him.
"You think he killed her."
"I think your mother's death was not an accident."
She closed her eyes.
Everything came back.
The funeral.
The flowers.
Her father's silence.
Richard's tears.
A lifetime of memories suddenly became suspicious.
Then her phone rang.
Vanessa.
Evelyn answered.
"Hello?"
Vanessa sounded terrified.
"Evelyn, listen to me."
"What?"
"I know where Richard is."
"Where?"
"He's going after your father."
Evelyn stood.
"Where?"
"St. Gabriel's."
She froze.
The old church.
Her mother's church.
Matteo was already moving.
They arrived too late.
The church doors hung open.
Evelyn's father lay beside a pew.
Alive.
Richard was standing behind him with a gun.
Evelyn screamed.
"Uncle!"
Richard turned.
His face was wet with tears.
"Evelyn."
"Put it down."
"You don't understand."
"I understand enough."
Richard looked at Matteo.
"This man is the reason your father is dying."
Matteo's eyes turned cold.
"No."
Richard laughed.
"You think you're saving her."
"I am."
"You don't know what she carries."
Evelyn stepped forward.
"What do you mean?"
Richard looked at her.
"Your mother knew."
"Knew what?"
"That your father had planned to disappear."
Her father stirred.
"Evelyn."
Richard lifted the gun.
"He was going to leave you."
Evelyn stared.
"No."
"He planned to abandon you to keep you safe."
Her father whispered.
"Richard."
"Tell her."
Silence.
Then Evelyn's father said the words.
"I was going to send you away."
Her face collapsed.
"Why?"
"Because they were coming."
"Who?"
"The Hawthornes."
Evelyn turned toward Matteo.
"Did you know?"
He shook his head.
"Not all of it."
Her father continued.
"I thought distance would protect you."
Evelyn cried.
"You let me think you didn't trust me."
"I was trying to save you."
Richard began laughing.
"That's what men always say."
Then he lowered the gun.
Evelyn looked at him.
"You killed my mother."
Richard's smile vanished.
"I loved your mother."
"Then why?"
"Because she was going to destroy everything."
The police sirens approached.
Richard looked around.
He knew there was no escape.
He placed the gun on the floor.
"I'm sorry."
Then he turned to Evelyn.
"But the ledger must never fall into the hands of the DeLucas."
Matteo looked at him.
"It's already too late."
Richard's face went pale.
Matteo walked to Evelyn.
"You."
He held out his hand.
"Why me?"
"Because I choose you."
"In front of everyone?"
"In front of anyone who thinks they can use you."
He raised her hand.
Photographers had gathered outside.
The story would be everywhere by morning.
Matteo DeLuca had chosen a seamstress.
Not a socialite.
Not an heiress.
Not a woman from his world.
May you like
Her.
And Chicago would never stop talking about it.
