Chapter 10 - the letter from London
Six months later, the afternoon sun cast a breathtaking golden light across the stone terrace of the Moretti estate.
A quiet family afternoon was underway. Five-year-old Mia was sitting at a small white wrought-iron table, happily drawing pictures with an oil pastel set, while Giulia sat beside her sipping fresh lemonade.
Dante stood near the stone balustrade wearing a crisp white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up over his dark tattoos, holding a glass of iced tea.
His head of security, Marcus, walked out onto the stone terrace, carrying a thick black leather envelope stamped with a heavy red wax seal—a crest depicting a golden anchor holding a broken chain.
Marcus handed the envelope to Dante, his expression calm but focused. "Boss. A private courier just brought this from the airport in London. It came directly from the High Council in Europe."
Dante broke the heavy wax seal and pulled out a single sheet of heavy parchment written in fine, sweeping gold calligraphy.
He read the first two lines, a quiet, subtle smile touching his sharp features as he looked at Giulia.
Written on the parchment were only two sentences:
To Don Dante Moretti: The debt of Chicago is settled, and your household is secure. But your late wife Chiara's secondary estate in London has just been unlocked by a second child's bloodline record.
Giulia looked at Dante, her soft brown eyes sparkling with curiosity and happiness. "Dante? What does it say?"
May you like
Dante slowly folded the black parchment, slipped it into his tuxedo pocket, and wrapped his broad arm around Giulia's waist, pulling her close against his side as they looked out toward the endless, sparkling blue horizon of Lake Michigan.
"It seems our story has one more beautiful chapter to write, my love," Dante whispered softly into the warm summer breeze, holding his wife and daughter close as the afternoon sun bathed them in eternal light.
