Dead to Him novel · Chapter 7 of 16

Chapter 7: Il Porto

Giovanni took his hand out of hers.

"Sal."

"I'm sorry." Serafina's eyes were wet again. "I'm so sorry. I kept it to myself because I didn't want to hurt you."

He was already at the door.

"Gio, don't do anything stupid. Stay. Eat something."

He didn't answer.

The pull yanked me out after him, past the coat stand and the coat and the heavy pocket.

In the car he said one thing to the driver.

"Home."

It was after nine when we got back.

My father's truck was gone from the gate.

The men were in the back room off the garage, the way they were most nights.

Six of them at a card table, with the TV on and a pot of Teresa's coffee.

Sal sat at the end with his bad shoulder toward the wall.

Giovanni walked in and turned off the TV.

Everyone stood up.

"Sit down," he said. "Not you, Sal."

Sal stayed on his feet.

"Boss?"

"How long have you been sleeping with my wife?"

Nobody moved.

Nunzio put his cards face down very slowly.

Sal's face went red, then white.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"I never touched her. Boss, on my mother, I never touched her."

"Somebody says you did. Somebody says that baby's yours."

"Who says that?"

Giovanni didn't answer.

Sal looked at the other men, then back at him.

"The Rinaldi girl," he said. "It's her, isn't it?"

"Answer me."

"I am answering you." Sal's voice got loud. "I never laid a finger on Kasia. I'd cut my own hand off first."

"Why?"

"Because I owe her my life. And so do you."

The room was dead quiet.

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