Clara discovered Alessandro was leaving when she found him putting documents into a leather case.

“Where are you going?”

“A meeting.”

“With Victor?”

Alessandro stopped.

“Marco talks too much.”

“Marco didn’t tell me.”

“Then how did you know?”

“Because every time you lie, you straighten your cuffs.”

Alessandro looked at his hands.

Clara almost smiled.

Almost.

“You’re not going alone.”

“Yes, I am.”

“That’s stupid.”

His eyebrows rose.

“People rarely call me stupid.”

“Maybe that’s your problem.”

He stepped closer.

“This is not a discussion.”

Clara refused to move.

“If this man is watching Sophie because of me, then it is absolutely a discussion.”

“He’s watching Sophie because of me.”

“That isn’t better.”

Alessandro looked away.

Clara saw it then.

Guilt.

Seven years of it.

“You still blame yourself for Isabella.”

His face hardened.

“Don’t.”

“You think caring about someone puts them in danger.”

“Sometimes it does.”

“So your solution is what? Never care again?”

“It worked for seven years.”

“No, Alessandro. You survived for seven years.”

Silence filled the room.

He stared at her.

She had crossed another line.

But this time she refused to apologize.

Finally, Alessandro spoke.

“Victor contacted me.”

“What does he want?”

“Money.”

“That’s all?”

“No.”

Clara waited.

“He has documents from our old company. Records that could prove he was responsible for ordering the sabotage that caused Isabella’s crash.”

Clara’s breath caught.

“He kept evidence?”

“Insurance.”

“Against you?”

“Against everyone.”

“And now he wants to sell it?”

“Yes.”

“Then let the police handle it.”

Alessandro gave her a tired look.

“You’ve watched too many movies.”

“And you’ve apparently lived in too many.”

That surprised a laugh from him.

Small.

But real.

Then Sophie appeared in the doorway wearing mismatched socks.

“You laughed.”

Alessandro looked at her.

“So?”

“You should do it more.”

“I’ll consider it.”

Sophie walked into the room.

“Are you leaving?”

“For a few hours.”

“Come back.”

The words were simple.

But Alessandro froze.

Sophie extended her pinkie.

“Promise.”

He looked at Clara.

She said nothing.

Slowly, Alessandro crouched.

His enormous hand looked almost ridiculous beside Sophie’s tiny one.

He hooked his pinkie around hers.

“I promise.”

The meeting took place at a hotel downtown.

Alessandro went with Marco and his attorney.

Victor Hale was already waiting.

He was sixty now.

Silver hair.

Expensive suit.

Easy smile.

“Seven years,” Victor said.

“Not long enough.”

Victor smiled wider.

“I heard you laughed recently.”

Alessandro’s eyes became cold.

“You photographed a child.”

“I photographed leverage.”

Alessandro stepped closer.

“Say that again.”

Victor’s smile faded.

There it was.

The old Alessandro.

The man people feared.

But he did not raise his voice.

He didn’t need to.

Victor slid a folder across the table.

“Five million dollars.”

Alessandro opened it.

Inside were copies of old financial records.

Payments.

Names.

Dates.

Enough to begin proving what Alessandro had suspected for seven years.

“Where are the originals?”

“Safe.”

“I want everything.”

“Pay me.”

Alessandro closed the folder.

“No.”

Victor blinked.

“You came here to negotiate.”

“No. I came here to confirm you actually had them.”

Victor’s expression changed.

Alessandro continued.

“My attorney has already sent copies of what you gave me to federal investigators.”

Victor stood.

“You’re bluffing.”

Alessandro smiled.

“You should have remembered something about me.”

“What?”

“I stopped protecting my reputation seven years ago.”

He walked toward the door.

Victor called after him.

“You think that maid and her little girl make you strong?”

Alessandro stopped.

Victor smiled.

“They make you predictable.”

Alessandro slowly turned.

“No.”

His voice was quiet.

“They reminded me that I have something worth becoming a better man for.”

Then he left.

When he returned to the mansion, it was after midnight.

The entrance hall was dark.

Except for one lamp.

Clara was sitting beneath it.

Waiting.

“You came back.”

“I promised.”

She stood.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Clara stepped forward and hugged him.

Alessandro went rigid.

Her arms were around him before she realized what she had done.

“I’m sorry.”

She began pulling away.

His arms closed around her.

“Stop apologizing.”

She rested her cheek against his chest.

For the first time in seven years, Alessandro Romano allowed himself to hold someone he was terrified to lose.

Upstairs, a sleepy voice called out.

“Mommy?”

They separated immediately.

Sophie appeared at the top of the stairs.

She rubbed her eyes.

Then smiled.

“I knew you liked him.”

Clara covered her face.

Alessandro laughed.

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