Chapter 10 - THE PRICE OF POWER
Luca met Serena at a downtown restaurant.
He had not wanted to see her.
But the dispute had grown beyond personal insults.
Serena's company was attempting to force Rose out of a building she had a contractual right to purchase.
And Luca knew Serena's family had used similar tactics before.
Serena arrived twenty minutes late.
She sat without apologizing.
"You've made me look ridiculous."
Luca looked at her.
"You did that yourself."
She laughed sharply.
"Because I insulted a baker?"
"Because you tried to destroy her livelihood."
Serena leaned forward.
"Don't pretend this is about justice. You're sleeping with her."
Luca's expression hardened.
"Rose and I are seeing each other. That doesn't change the facts."
Serena stared.
"You've lost your mind."
"Maybe."
"Your grandfather would be ashamed."
Luca went still.
Serena smiled.
She had found the wound.
"He spent his life building a family name. And now you're throwing it away over some overweight woman with a pie shop."
Luca stood.
"Don't speak about her that way again."
Serena laughed.
"There he is. The great Luca Benedetti. Threatening a woman because she told the truth."
He looked at her.
"No threat."
He placed a folder on the table.
"Your company received formal notice this morning. The lease dispute will be handled by attorneys."
Serena opened the folder.
Her smile disappeared.
Luca continued.
"And I've instructed my businesses to review every contract involving Vance Urban Development."
"You can't do that."
"I can review contracts my companies are party to."
She stared.
"You're declaring war."
"No."
Luca buttoned his coat.
"I'm ending a relationship that should have ended years ago."
He walked away.
Outside, his phone rang.
It was Donato Rizzi, his oldest associate.
"We have a problem," Donato said.
Luca stopped.
"What kind?"
"The kind your father used to solve quietly."
Luca closed his eyes.
For years, that sentence had meant intimidation.
Violence.
Someone disappearing from a business negotiation.
"Not anymore," he said.
Donato hesitated.
"Boss?"
"Whatever it is, we handle it legally."
Silence.
Then Donato replied:
"Some of the men won't like that."
Luca looked toward the street.
May you like
"I know."
And for the first time, he understood how expensive changing his life might become.
