Chapter 9 - Luca calls from Chicago
He called after seeing news of the birthday incident.
“Is Emmie okay?”
“Yes.”
Long pause.
“I’m sorry.”
“For the slap?”
“For all of it.”
“What does that mean?”
Silence.
Then:
“You told Bianca I learned my lesson?”
“Yes.”
“She reacted?”
“She looked terrified.”
Luca exhaled.
“Rafael.”
I waited.
“She thinks I never gave you the backup ledger.”
My hand tightened around the phone.
“What backup ledger?”
Another silence.
Longer.
Then:
“I need a lawyer before I answer that.”
That told me enough.
“Get one.”
He sounded surprised.
“You’re not threatening me?”
“No.”
“Raf—”
“I have an eight-year-old sleeping with gauze in her mouth because adults in this family confuse secrecy with loyalty. Get a lawyer. Then tell the truth.”
May you like
I hung up.
The next morning, Luca’s attorney contacted mine.
