“He was family,” she says softly.
“It needed to be done.”
“Right next to me? You could have told me to stay away!”
“I know, and I should have. I didn’t even think about it.”
“You didn’t think about it?” She raises her voice. “Really, Evan? You didn’t think about this?”
“I didn’t think about you being here. I didn’t think about how…well, you aren’t used to this.”
“No, I’m not. I don’t know how anyone ever could be!” She sits up straighter and looks directly at me. “My God, I’m supposed to marry you? After that? How I could ever consider…”
She stops speaking and just shakes her head. I look at her for a long moment, sigh, and then nod.
“I’m not going to marry you, Lucia.”
She stares at me, mouth open. She’s still shaken by what she’s seen, but she’s starting to come around. She closes her mouth, and I see her throat bob.
“It’s what Daddy wanted,” she says quietly. “He told me he did.”
“I know.” I reach out and take her hand. “It’s not going to happen. You are going to Italy with your mother. I’ll get the house sold for you and transfer the money.”
“Really?”
“Will that work for you?”
“You don’t think he’d be mad?”
“I think he’
d understand,” I say. “He always knew who I was. That’s never really changed. I want to honor his wishes, too, but we both know that isn’t going to work out.”
I stand and reach for her hand.
“Come on,” I say, “let’s get you cleaned up. I’ll have Jonathan get your flight and everything arranged so you can travel with Lele. I’ll make sure your accounts are taken care of, and you don’t have to worry about any of this anymore.”
I really can’t believe how well this turned out.
Chapter 22—Final Piece
Everything is coming together.
All the travel arrangements have been made for Rinaldo’s family. By the end of next week, they’ll all be out of the Chicago area. I may not have done it exactly how Rinaldo envisioned, but I’ve taken care of all of them. They are out of the business, out of the city, and out of harm’s way.
Eddie-boy will be arriving soon. It will be good to have someone else around I trust. Jonathan has been fantastic, but he can’t handle it all. Becca’s been spending nights working on the books and getting all the accounts changed around to keep them out of Joshua Taylor’s hands. I need someone else to help me find him, and Eddie-boy is perfect for the job.
My phone beeps. It’s a text from Alina, who is downstairs with the last few things from her old place. She’s officially out of her apartment with Loretta and moving in with me. I hit the access button on the wall to let her in the front door and pick up the key I’ve had made for her so I don’t forget to give it to her this time.
I text back to ask if she needs help, but she says she’s good and arrives at the door a minute later, carrying a backpack and a large purple handbag. I take the backpack from her shoulder and place it near the door to her room, and she sets the handbag on the floor carefully.
“I thought you were bringing the dog with you on this trip,” I say.
“I am.” Alina beams at me. “I did bring her.”
I narrow my eyes and check the hallway, but there’s nothing there. Alina laughs and opens a zipper at the top of the handbag and points. Confused, I glance down to the bag on the floor.
“What the fuck is that?”