Chapter 11: The Dated Drawings

Gianna's POV

The Commission met in a private dining room above a restaurant in Stamford.

The table was long enough for half the Family to sit and watch.

Five elders sat at the far end in dark suits.

Nobody had put out food.

I took the chair beside Federico, with Paola on my other side and a canvas bag at her feet.

Across from us sat the boss.

I had seen Ruggeri a hundred times at christenings and funerals, a thick man with a silver mustache.

He used to kiss my cheek and ask about my mother's recipes.

This morning he looked through me.

Valentina sat at his right in a plain black dress, with a handkerchief in her fist.

Dario sat at the end, beside a lawyer, with his hands folded and his eyes on the table.

"This hearing concerns the complaint of Mr. Ruggeri," said the eldest of the five.

"He says a drawing set belonging to his daughter was copied by a woman now under the Orsini name."

"Taken," said Ruggeri. "Stolen. By a girl my family fed for sixteen years."

"The Sabatini family fed her," Federico said quietly. "You provided the dresses."

Someone coughed.

The chairman lifted a hand.

"Call the witness."

Dario stood and was sworn on his mother's name.

He didn't look at me.

"Mr. Sabatini. Did you see these drawings made?"

"Yes."

"By whom?"

"By Valentina." He swallowed. "She worked on them at our house in the evenings.

"Gianna used to sit with her. I think she picked up a lot."

"Gianna never drew them?" the chairman asked.

"No."

"Never?"

"No, sir. Gianna didn't have the training for it."

I looked at my hands.

I was a licensed engineer, and he had known it for eight years.

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