Chapter 3 – THE SILVER WATCH IN THE SAFE

Vincent stared at the torn photograph, his face hardening into the mask of the mafia boss I had spent twenty-eight years trying not to see.

“It’s not what it looks like, Claire,” Vincent said, taking a step toward me.

“You shook hands with the man hunting our daughter,” I said, my voice trembling with a rage I had never known. “You handed our grandson over to the Marinos.”

“I traded them to stop a war!” Vincent shouted, his composure finally breaking. “Carlo was going to burn Chicago to the ground. He was going to come after you. I made a deal to keep the peace. Carlo gets his son, Mia gets to live quietly in exile, and the Romano family survives.”

“You traded your own blood,” I whispered in disgust.

Natalie was staring at Vincent in pure horror. “You told me the separate car was for their safety. You told me you loved me.”

“I do love you,” Vincent said, turning to her. “And I protected you. You’re here, aren’t you?”

“You didn’t bring her here to protect her,” I interrupted, the terrible logic of his world finally clicking into place. “You brought her here because she’s leverage.”

I looked at Natalie. “Carlo Marino is your brother, isn’t he?”

Natalie froze.

Vincent’s silence confirmed it. He hadn’t just taken a mistress; he had bedded his rival’s sister. He brought her here to trade her life in case Carlo reneged on the deal.

“I didn’t spy for Carlo,” Natalie pleaded, looking at me. “I swear. I fell in love with Vincent. I loved Leo.”

“Enough,” Vincent snapped. He checked his phone. “The exchange is done. Carlo has the boy. Mia is on a plane. It’s over.”

“It’s not over,” I said.

I walked past him into his private study. Vincent followed, demanding I stop, but I ignored him. I went straight to the oak bookshelf, reached behind the leather-bound encyclopedia, and pressed the hidden latch. The wall panel popped open, revealing his steel wall safe.

“Claire, step away,” Vincent warned.

I punched in the code. I had known it for a decade. Our anniversary backward.

The heavy door swung open.

I reached inside, expecting to find the emergency cash and the passports. But the safe was entirely empty.

Except for one object resting on the velvet lining.

I pulled it out. It was a heavy, antique silver pocket watch.

My father’s watch. The one Vincent had sworn was lost fifteen years ago.

I popped the lid open. Etched inside the casing wasn’t my father’s name. It was a single line of Italian text: Per il mio patto con il diavolo. For my pact with the devil.

I turned around, holding the watch. “You didn’t just make a deal with Carlo yesterday, Vincent. You’ve been in debt to him for years.”

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