Chapter 5 - THE MAFIA BOSS WHO DIDN'T ASK FOR PAYMENT
Vincent met me that afternoon.
Not in a private penthouse.
Not in a locked office.
In the hotel's public café.
Elena remained nearby.
I appreciated that.
Vincent stood when I approached.
“Miss Harper.”
“Evelyn.”
He smiled faintly.
“Evelyn.”
We sat.
He ordered coffee.
I ordered tea.
For several minutes, we talked about ordinary things.
The weather.
The hotel.
My job at the diner.
Then I looked at him.
“Why are you helping me?”
He considered the question.
“Because I saw something that concerned me.”
“People don't help strangers for nothing.”
He looked at me.
“Sometimes they do.”
I shook my head.
“Not in my experience.”
His expression changed.
Not pity.
Something quieter.
“I can't undo what you've experienced,” he said. “But I can tell you what I'm offering.”
I waited.
“Access to a private security office. A referral to independent legal support. And information about resources that may help you leave safely if you choose.”
I stared.
“That's all?”
“That's all.”
“You don't want anything?”
“No.”
I looked down at my tea.
Then asked:
“Are you really a mafia boss?”
He was silent for a moment.
“People have called me many things.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“No,” he admitted. “It isn't.”
I looked up.
He continued.
“My family has a history I'm not proud of. Some of my businesses are legitimate. Others have been investigated. I won't pretend otherwise.”
I appreciated the honesty.
Then he said:
“You don't need to trust me to accept help from professionals who aren't controlled by me.”
May you like
That mattered.
More than he knew.
