Chapter 2 - The Price of a Family NameThe meeting point was an abandoned funeral home on the South Side.
That should have been funny.
It wasn't.
Emily wanted federal tactical support.
Alessandro refused.
“If Ruggero sees one agent, Teresa dies.”
Emily crossed her arms.
“If you walk into that building, you may die.”
“So be it.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
His eyes moved to me.
I continued.
“You don't get to become noble now.”
A flicker of anger.
“Adriana.”
“You spent two years deciding what I could survive. You're not dying dramatically before I get answers.”
Maso coughed.
Possibly hiding a laugh.
Alessandro stared at him.
He stopped.
Emily spread a paper map across the hood of the SUV.
“We compromise.”
Alessandro looked skeptical.
“Federal units remain three blocks out. No visible movement unless I trigger it.”
“And if you're inside?”
“I'll wear a transmitter.”
Ruggero had demanded Alessandro, me, and the ring.
He said nothing about Emily.
That made her the advantage.
I removed the wedding ring from my pocket.
The gold looked harmless.
Almost delicate.
My father had once told me that the most dangerous flaws in jewelry were often invisible until pressure was applied.
I wondered whether he had meant people too.
Emily took the ring.
“I can remove the chip.”
“No.”
Everyone looked at me.
I continued.
“If Ruggero knows what the compartment looks like, he'll know.”
Emily frowned.
“We cannot hand him evidence.”
“We don't.”
I turned to Alessandro.
“Do you remember my father's replicas?”
His eyes narrowed.
“He made restoration molds.”
“Yes.”
When restoring antique pieces, my father sometimes cast near-perfect replicas to test settings.
Bellini's still had his tools.
And molds.
I looked at Maso.
“How long do we have?”
“Forty-two minutes.”
“Drive.”
Fifteen minutes later, we were back at Bellini Jewel Restoration.
My hands moved from memory.
Wax.
Mold.
Gold-plated alloy.
Not perfect.
But close enough at a glance.
Alessandro stood behind me.
“You learned all of this?”
“My father started teaching me when I was seven.”
“You never told me.”
I laughed without looking up.
“You never asked.”
Silence.
That hurt him.
Good.
Ten minutes later, I held two rings.
The original.
The replica.
Emily removed the microchip from the real ring and sealed it inside a plain steel pendant beneath her shirt.
I placed the replica ring in my pocket.
The real ring went into my coat lining.
“Why keep the original?” Alessandro asked.
“Because it was my father's work.”
His face softened.
“I gave it to you.”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“My father made it. You used it.”
That distinction mattered.
We drove to the funeral home.
Alessandro and I went inside alone.
Maso remained outside.
Emily vanished somewhere I couldn't see.
The funeral home smelled of dust and old carpet.
One overhead light burned.
Ruggero stood near a closed casket.
Four armed men surrounded him.
Teresa sat in a chair.
Her hands were tied.
Her face was bruised.
My anger became useful.
Ruggero smiled.
“Adriana.”
I said nothing.
“You always had dramatic timing.”
“Untie her.”
“First the ring.”
Alessandro stepped slightly in front of me.
Ruggero noticed.
“Still pretending you're a husband?”
Alessandro's jaw tightened.
Ruggero looked at me.
“Did he tell you he brought the federal girl to your birthday intentionally?”
“Yes.”
“Did he tell you whose idea it was?”
I glanced at Alessandro.
Ruggero smiled.
“Ah.”
“Don't,” Alessandro said.
Ruggero ignored him.
“It was mine.”
The words landed strangely.
I stared.
Ruggero continued.
“I told Alessandro there was a leak among his captains. I suggested he make himself look distracted.”
“You knew Emily was federal?”
“No.”
His smile vanished.
“That part was Alessandro's improvisation.”
I looked at my husband.
He said nothing.
Ruggero laughed softly.
“Your marriage has always been built on strategic omissions.”
He turned toward me.
“Ask him why he married you.”
Alessandro's face changed.
There.
Fear.
Not of death.
Of the answer.
I looked at him.
“Why did you marry me?”
“Not here.”
Ruggero laughed.
“Perfect.”
I stepped away from Alessandro.
“Why?”
He looked at me.
“Adriana.”
“Answer.”
Ruggero leaned against the casket.
“Because your father had something Carlo needed.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“A ledger.”
I looked at Alessandro.
His silence became unbearable.
“Is that true?”
He finally spoke.
“My father believed your father possessed records proving Ruggero had been stealing from the family.”
“And you married me to get them?”
“No.”
“Did you meet me because of them?”
Silence.
That was answer enough.
I felt something inside me break cleanly.
No tears.
No shaking.
Just separation.
Ruggero watched with pleasure.
That saved me.
Because I refused to give him the satisfaction.
I turned toward him.
“Congratulations.”
He blinked.
“You wanted to hurt me.”
I reached into my pocket.
“You did.”
I held out the replica ring.
“Now release Teresa.”
Ruggero gestured.
One of his men untied her.
Teresa stood slowly.
Her eyes met mine.
Then she looked at the ring.
Something flashed in her expression.
Recognition.
She knew it was fake.
Of course she did.
Teresa had watched my father work.
She said nothing.
Smart woman.
Ruggero took the ring.
He examined the inside.
“Open it.”
I smiled.
“You wanted the ring.”
His eyes hardened.
“Open it.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because Alessandro never told me how.”
That lie cost nothing.
Ruggero handed it to one of his men.
“Take her.”
Alessandro moved instantly.
A gun appeared in his hand.
Everything stopped.
Ruggero smiled.
“There he is.”
His men raised weapons.
I grabbed Teresa and pulled her behind the casket.
Then the lights went out.
Emily.
Gunshots exploded in darkness.
Glass shattered.
Someone screamed.
Alessandro shouted my name.
I dragged Teresa toward the side wall.
A door opened.
Maso appeared.
“Move!”
We ran.
Outside, federal vehicles flooded the street.
Ruggero's men scattered.
Two surrendered.
One was shot.
Ruggero disappeared through a rear exit.
Alessandro emerged last.
Blood stained his sleeve.
I rushed toward him despite myself.
“Are you hit?”
“Graze.”
My anger returned immediately.
Good.
I stepped back.
Teresa caught my hand.
“Signora.”
She was shaking.
I embraced her.
Only then did she whisper into my ear.
“Your father didn't die of a heart attack.”
My entire body froze.
“What?”
Teresa pulled back.
Her eyes were full of terror.
“He found the ledger.”
My breath stopped.
“And Ruggero found out.”
I stared at her.
“No.”
She squeezed my hand.
“I was there the night your father died.”
The street disappeared around me.
“What are you saying?”
Teresa whispered:
May you like
“He was murdered.”
Cliffhanger: Adriana’s marriage had begun with a lie—but her father’s death had begun the entire war.
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