Chapter 10 - THE BRACELET
Three weeks had passed since the glass shattered in the lobby of First Chicago Federal.
The Moretti estate was quiet. The army of enforcers and shady associates that used to linger in the gardens were gone, swept up in the massive federal indictments triggered by Michael’s ledger.
Luca had completely dismantled the criminal side of the family business. He handed the shipping ports over to the state, liquidated the illegal holdings, and poured the remaining clean money into a legitimate trust for Leo.
I was standing in the grand foyer, but I wasn't wearing my housekeeping uniform. I was wearing a simple, elegant black dress.
Vanessa walked down the sweeping staircase, holding Leo’s hand. The engagement between her and Luca had been officially, and amicably, broken. It had only ever been a shield for Vanessa to get close enough to find the ledger, and Luca harbored no resentment. They were family now, bound by blood and survival.
"Are you ready, Emily?" Vanessa asked warmly.
"I am," I smiled.
Today, we were going to Michael’s real grave. The FBI had coerced Silvio into revealing where he had dumped the body. Luca had arranged a proper, beautiful funeral at the family plot in the hills outside the city.
Luca emerged from his study. He looked lighter. The crushing weight of his family's sins had finally lifted off his shoulders. When his eyes met mine, a warm, genuine affection passed between us—something that had been growing steadily over the last three weeks.
"Let's go bring my brother home," Luca said gently.
The burial service was private. Just Luca, Vanessa, Leo, Samuel Bennett, and me.
Father Michael read the final rites, his voice carrying over the gentle breeze of the cemetery. Leo placed a single white rose on the polished marble headstone.
"I love you, Daddy," Leo whispered.
Vanessa wiped a tear, pulling the boy into her arms.
As the service ended, the others began walking slowly back to the cars. I stayed behind for a moment, looking at the beautiful, peaceful resting place.
I turned to follow them, but my shoe caught on something half-buried in the soft dirt near the base of an older, neighboring headstone.
I bent down and brushed the dirt away.
It was a delicate, silver charm bracelet. It was heavily tarnished from years in the earth, but the moment I saw the unique, star-shaped charm hanging from the links, the breath left my lungs.
A reversal of my entire history slammed into me.
I knew this bracelet. I had a photograph of my mother wearing it when I was a baby. She told me she had lost it decades ago.
But my mother had never been to this private, ultra-exclusive Moretti family cemetery. She had been a waitress on the South Side before she died when I was ten.
"Emily?" Luca called out, noticing I had stopped. He walked back toward me. "Are you alright?"
I held up the tarnished silver bracelet, my hands shaking uncontrollably.
"Mr. Moretti," I whispered, staring at the grave where I had found it. "Whose grave is this?"
Luca looked at the older marble headstone.
"That's my mother's grave," Luca said, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Isabella Moretti."
May you like
I looked down at the bracelet in my palm, then up at Luca.
"This is my mother's bracelet," I said, my voice barely functioning. "Why was it buried on your mother's grave?"
