After He Watched Me Drown, I Built My Empire novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: The Bridge Her Father Built

I called my mother from the boathouse loft, because I could not think of anyone else who would tell me the truth.

It was evening in Florence, and she picked up on the second ring, still in her work apron.

"Silvia, cara. It's not Sunday."

"They took the exchange away, Mama. The foundation did."

She said nothing for so long I checked the screen.

Then she took off her glasses.

"I was afraid of this."

"Afraid of what?"

"Ignazio pays my rent here."

I sat down on the cot.

"He's paid it for fourteen years. When your father died, he told me you would be safe in his house, and that I would be safe in Florence, and that neither of us should ask why."

"Why?"

"Because your father left you his chair."

I looked at the wall.

"Cesare said that word today, and I didn't know what it meant."

"It's not furniture." Her voice dropped. "Your father held a vote at the Brancato table. The Arcuri vote. Every bridge and every dock contract in that family's world goes through it, and for fourteen years Ignazio has held it empty for you so nobody else could take it."

"Nobody told me."

"Ignazio forbade it until you turned twenty-four. He said if you knew too early, you would be a target. I have wanted to tell you since you were nine."

She was crying a little now.

"Mama, I could have died yesterday."

"What?"

I told her the short version.

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