Chapter 5
Two weeks later, Clara was still working at Il Destino.
Rico hadn't hired her.
Officially.
Unofficially, he had begun making sure she was assigned to his table every Friday.
Leo adored her.
He would sit beside her while she folded napkins.
He followed her around the restaurant.
He even started speaking more.
"Milk."
"More."
"Clara."
"Home."
The last word worried her.
One night, after closing, Rico found Clara sitting alone in the kitchen.
She was staring at an old photograph.
Rico recognized the face.
Elena.
"Where did you get that?"
Clara looked up.
"It was on the counter."
Rico took the photograph.
It showed Elena holding Leo as a baby.
Clara smiled.
"She was beautiful."
"Yes."
"She looks happy."
"She was."
Rico sat across from her.
"She was afraid."
Clara looked at him.
"Of what?"
Rico hesitated.
"Me."
"Why?"
"Because of my life."
Clara studied him.
"Did she ever ask you to leave?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"I told her I would."
"But you didn't."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I thought I could protect her."
Clara's expression softened.
"Sometimes protection isn't enough."
Rico stared at her.
"That's what she used to say."
Clara looked down.
"Maybe she was right."
Rico's jaw tightened.
"She was."
Three weeks later, Clara discovered something.
It happened by accident.
She was cleaning the private dining room when she heard Rico arguing with Dante.
"Who gave them the route?"
"I don't know."
"Someone did."
"They knew Elena would be in that car."
Clara froze.
Elena's death.
The drive-by.
Everyone had called it an attack meant for Rico.
But now—
Dante said:
"They knew the route."
Rico's voice dropped.
"Which means someone gave it to them."
Clara stepped backward.
The floor creaked.
Silence.
Rico turned.
"Clara?"
She walked into the room.
"Who gave them the route?"
Dante immediately reached for his weapon.
Rico stopped him.
"Nobody."
Clara looked at Rico.
"You're lying."
His expression changed.
"Go home."
"No."
"Clara."
"Who killed Elena?"
Rico's face hardened.
"We don't know."
"Then why did you say someone gave them the route?"
He stared at her.
"Because we believe it."
"Who?"
"Clara, this doesn't concern you."
"It concerns Leo."
Rico went silent.
She stepped closer.
"You brought me into this when you brought me into his life."
Rico shook his head.
"No."
"You trust me with your son."
"That's different."
"Why?"
"Because Leo is innocent."
"So was Elena."
The room went silent.
Rico stared at her.
Clara immediately regretted the words.
"I'm sorry."
Rico looked away.
Then said:
"Her death wasn't random."
Clara's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
"She was investigating something."
"What?"
"My organization."
"Why?"
"Because she found money missing."
Clara froze.
"How much?"
"Six million dollars."
She stared.
"And she knew who took it?"
"I think so."
"Who?"
May you like
Rico looked directly at her.
"That's what I've been trying to find out."
