Chapter 9 - THE MAN WHO CAME WITH A CONTRACT
Aldo Moretti arrived in Briar Hollow on a Friday.
He came in a black limousine.
Wore a charcoal overcoat.
Carried a silver cane he didn't need.
And walked into Willow & Rye as though he owned it.
Hannah stood behind the counter.
Dante was washing trays.
Samuel sat near the oven.
Aldo smiled.
“Dante.”
The room went cold.
Dante set down the tray.
“Uncle.”
Aldo looked around.
“So this is where you've been hiding.”
Dante said nothing.
Aldo's gaze moved toward Hannah.
“And this must be the baker's daughter.”
Hannah crossed her arms.
“My name is Hannah.”
Aldo smiled.
“Of course.”
He placed a folder on the counter.
“I'm here to make a generous offer.”
Dante didn't move.
Aldo continued.
“The property is worth very little.”
Hannah's expression hardened.
“But I'm willing to pay far above market value.”
She shook her head.
“Not interested.”
Aldo looked surprised.
“You haven't heard the number.”
“I don't need to.”
He smiled thinly.
“Everyone has a price.”
Hannah looked at him.
“Then you haven't met everyone.”
Dante almost smiled.
Aldo's expression changed.
He turned toward Dante.
“Come home.”
“No.”
Aldo stared.
“You're embarrassing the family.”
Dante looked at him.
“The family embarrassed itself twenty-two years ago.”
Silence.
Aldo's eyes narrowed.
“What have you been told?”
Dante stepped closer.
“Enough.”
Aldo looked toward Samuel.
Then back at Dante.
“Old stories.”
Dante shook his head.
“Old crimes.”
Aldo's smile disappeared.
He lowered his voice.
“Be careful.”
Dante stared.
“For years, you taught me to read contracts.”
Aldo frowned.
Dante continued.
“I finally read yours.”
He placed a copy of the ledger on the counter.
Aldo went pale.
For the first time, Hannah saw fear in the older man's eyes.
Aldo stared at the blue cover.
Then whispered:
“Where did you get that?”
Dante looked at him.
“Mick.”
Silence.
Aldo closed his eyes.
For a moment, he looked old.
Then his expression hardened.
“That man should have stayed quiet.”
Dante felt cold.
He stepped forward.
“Don't speak about him.”
Aldo looked up.
“You think he was innocent?”
Dante stared.
Aldo smiled bitterly.
“Mick drove the truck.”
“I know.”
“He knew who we were.”
“I know.”
“He took our money.”
Dante nodded.
“And then he saved a child.”
Aldo laughed.
“One child.”
Dante's voice hardened.
“One child who grew up.”
He gestured toward Hannah.
“One child who built a life.”
Aldo looked at her.
For a moment, something like shame crossed his face.
Then vanished.
He turned toward the door.
“This isn't finished.”
Dante nodded.
“No.”
His voice was quiet.
“It isn't.”
Aldo left.
The bakery remained silent.
Hannah looked at Dante.
“What happens now?”
He stared at the ledger.
May you like
Then said:
“Now we stop hiding.”
