Chapter 7 - The Shadow of the Past
Three days passed in absolute comfort. Rory flourished under the care of the penthouse staff, her cheeks regaining a healthy rosy glow, while Emily finally began to recover from months of physical and emotional exhaustion.
Vincent visited every evening after six. He would remove his suit jacket, roll up the sleeves of his dark shirt, and sit on the floor playing simple board games with Rory while discussing business with Marco in low tones.
Watching him, Emily realized that beneath the feared exterior of Chicago’s top Mafia boss lay a man bound by an extraordinary, unspoken code of honor.
On Thursday evening, while Rory was fast asleep in her room, Emily joined Vincent on the balcony overlooking the sparkling city lights.
"Mr. Kane," Emily spoke up softly, the cool lake breeze tossing her dark hair. "I need to ask you something."
Vincent took a slow sip of his bourbon. "Go ahead, Emily."
"Why did David Sterling hire me three years ago?" she asked, her voice filled with quiet suspicion. "I applied for a simple dishwasher job, but he immediately put me on the main floor, gave me double shifts, and kept me isolated from the rest of the staff. He watched me like I was a prisoner."
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Vincent’s jaw tightened. He set his glass down on the stone railing and turned to face her.
"Because David wasn't just running a bistro, Emily," Vincent said softly. "He was being paid ten thousand dollars a month by an anonymous trust to keep you broke, exhausted, and unable to leave Chicago."
