She Left Her Cheating Fiancé, Then Met the Mafia Boss Who Wanted Her novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: The Back Room Vote

The back room of the Falcone steakhouse had one long table and one door to the kitchen.

It also had a second door, behind the head of the table, that opened on the street.

I noticed it the moment we walked in.

Five men sat along the table, grey and heavy in dark suits. They were the heads of the family.

Silvio sat at the foot in his grey cardigan, with a glass of water and a folder.

Dominic took the chair at the head.

He did not pull out a chair for me.

I stood at his right hand in a black dress, with the collar on my throat.

I had told him to leave me standing.

Every eye in the room went to the silver ring.

"Boss," Silvio said, warmly. "Thank you for coming. We'll begin."

Nobody told him he couldn't.

He opened the folder.

"A matter of debt," he said. "Ethan Regan owed this family two hundred and forty thousand dollars. I held his paper. Regan signed a guarantee, and the guarantor is here tonight."

He slid a sheet down the table.

It stopped in front of the eldest man, who had a cane laid across his knees.

"Guarantor of all debts and obligations of E. Regan," Silvio read, "personally and in kind. Signed, Ariella Hayes."

The old man looked at me over his glasses.

"Is that your name, miss?"

"It's my name."

"Is that your hand?"

"It is." I kept my voice level. "I signed it in my kitchen, months ago, when my fiancé told me it was for a deposit. I didn't read it. I will never forgive myself for that."

Somebody shifted in his chair.

"Under the rules of this family," Silvio went on, "the guarantor owes what the debtor owes. I propose the family rule that Miss Hayes works off the debt. Under my supervision."

"For how long?" asked a man with a gold watch.

"Until it's paid." He smiled. "Years, I imagine."

Nobody spoke.

Dominic's hand lay flat on the table. I saw the veins stand in it.

I put my own hand lightly on the back of his chair.

"May I read it?" I said.

Silvio blinked.

"You've heard it."

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