Chapter 12 - SECRETS REVEALED
I froze. The air in the kitchen suddenly felt very thin. “Luca...” I started. “Think about it, Emily,” he interrupted softly. “You've protected my daughter when everyone else wanted to exploit her.” “You stood up to Vanessa when nobody else dared.” “You brought light back into this dark house.” “I'm your housekeeper,” I reminded him, my voice barely audible. “You were never just a housekeeper,” Luca replied. He stepped closer. “From the first day you walked into this mansion, you were different.” “Strong.” “Intelligent.” “Unflinching.” Before I could answer, my phone buzzed in my apron pocket. I pulled it out. It was a text from my mother.“Emily, the bank just called. The entire mortgage has been paid off in full! An anonymous transfer! Was this you?” I stared at the screen. I looked up at Luca. He had a faint, knowing smile on his lips. “You didn't have to do that,” I said. “Your mother worked thirty years in a hospital laundry room,” Luca said quietly. “She raised a brilliant daughter.” “It's the least I could do.” “Thank you,” I whispered, tears blurring my vision. “Don't thank me yet,” Luca said. “There's one more thing.” “What?” He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. My breath hitched. “Luca, what is this?” “Arthur's remaining assets were seized by the federal court,” he explained. “Including a small family heirloom that rightfully belongs to someone honest.” He opened the box. Inside lay a delicate silver pendant shaped like an olive branch. Ancient. Beautiful. “My grandmother's necklace,” Luca said. “She brought it with her from Naples.” He took the pendant out. He stepped behind me. I felt his breath warm against the back of my neck. He lifted my hair and fastened the delicate silver chain around my throat. The metal was cool against my skin, but his hands were warm. “It looks like it belongs there,” he murmured. My heart raced. For the first time in eleven months, the shadows of the Moretti mafia empire didn't feel terrifying. They felt like a shield. Protecting us. Protecting me.
