Chapter 9 - The Engagement That Ended Quietly

Luca did not shout when Belini returned the ring.

That surprised everyone except Emma.

He looked at it.

Then at Belini.

“Is this what you want?”

“Yes.”

“Because of Victor?”

“Because I spent too long choosing safety over honesty.”

Luca nodded.

No threats.

No accusation.

No spectacle.

Their engagement ended in less than five minutes.

Belini cried later.

Emma knew because she found her in the downstairs powder room.

She pretended not to notice.

Belini appreciated that.

Some endings did not need enemies.

Victor’s trial preparations began.

Vale’s case expanded.

Daniel moved into a small apartment two blocks from Emma.

She refused Luca’s offer to put him somewhere “more secure.”

Daniel accepted Luca’s offer anyway.

Emma discovered this three days later.

“You both ignored me.”

Daniel looked at Luca.

“She gets that expression from her mother.”

Emma froze.

Luca looked interested.

“Do not encourage him.”

Daniel smiled.

For the first time in years, Emma had a father again.

Not the memory.

The man.

Imperfect.

Infuriating.

Alive.

She also stopped working at the Sovereign.

Luca offered her a position reviewing risk controls for his legitimate companies.

Emma refused.

Then accepted after negotiating salary.

Aggressively.

Luca looked at the final number.

“You enjoy this.”

“Yes.”

“You increased the retirement match.”

“Yes.”

“And added independent audit authority.”

“Yes.”

“You realize I own the company.”

“You realize that is why it needs independent audit authority.”

Luca signed.

Their relationship changed without permission.

Coffee became meetings.

Meetings became dinners.

Dinners became arguments about whether security guards needed to stand outside every restaurant bathroom.

Emma won some.

Luca pretended she did not.

One evening, Daniel left early after dinner.

Marco disappeared with suspicious efficiency.

Emma and Luca remained alone in the library.

Rain touched the windows.

Again.

Too many important nights involved rain.

Luca handed her something.

The receiver watch.

Disassembled.

Empty.

No electronics.

Emma frowned.

“What is this?”

“Evidence release.”

“You kept the casing.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

He looked at it.

“Reminder.”

“Of Victor?”

“No.”

Emma waited.

“Of ten minutes.”

She understood.

The kitchen.

Her apartment.

Trust me for ten minutes.

“You trusted me because I threatened you with logic.”

“You were extremely persuasive.”

“I had your gun.”

“That helped.”

Emma smiled.

Then became serious.

“Do you regret it?”

“What?”

“Trusting me.”

Luca answered immediately.

“No.”

Too quickly to be polite.

Too quiet to be performance.

Emma looked away.

That felt dangerous.

Not Victor-dangerous.

Worse.

Personal.

Luca noticed.

Of course he did.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Poor lie.”

“You are becoming annoying.”

“I was always annoying.”

“That is true.”

He stepped closer.

Not touching.

Waiting.

Emma appreciated that more than she expected.

Then his phone rang.

Marco.

Luca answered.

His face changed.

“What?”

Emma stood.

Marco spoke through the phone.

Victor had requested a private proffer.

A statement.

One condition.

He would talk only if Emma attended.

Luca looked at her.

“No.”

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Emma laughed.

“We really need a new word.”