The Moretti Daughter They Denied novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: No Debts

"No," I said.

My father stayed on his knees on the carpet.

"Nora, you don't understand what I'm offering."

"I understand it perfectly. You're offering to save my life."

"Yes."

"And after you do, I'll owe you my life."

He looked up at me, and his mouth worked.

"It isn't a debt," he said. "It's what a father does."

"A father would have asked why a six-year-old stopped asking for things."

"I didn't know."

"You didn't look."

That was the truth, and I watched it go into him.

"For twenty-two years I've paid for every bite in this house," I said. "I washed the pots and I sat at the end and I said thank you. I was done paying yesterday. I'm not starting again."

"Then you'll die."

"Then I'll die owing nobody."

The underboss shifted his feet.

One of the men by the wall crossed himself.

Carmela had stopped screaming.

She stood behind her mother's chair with her arms wrapped around herself.

Her mascara was streaked, and she looked at me with wide eyes.

"Nora," she said. "Please."

"Don't."

"Papa has a bad heart. He had a scare last year. If he gives you his blood and something happens..."

"Then you'll have the restaurant and all his money," I said. "You were going to anyway."

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