The Cyber Twins novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: The Screens

The anniversary dinner was set for forty.

Forty years of the Sabatini import houses, the invitations said, and every captain on the docks sat at Ottavio's long table.

Crowe sat at the far end, under the truce he had signed in March.

His right wrist was wrapped in a white bandage, and his smile never reached his eyes.

Jillian had been seated at Ottavio's right hand, where she had sat for eight years.

I sat at the other end, beside Gia, and I felt Nico's eyes across the cloth.

The third day had come.

Ottavio rose with his glass.

"Forty years," he said. "My wife and I started with one warehouse and a borrowed truck."

Glasses lifted.

"Tonight, I also expect an answer. The Ghost, at my table, as I said."

The room went still.

Nico stood.

"Papà, before the Ghost, there's a leak to settle."

"Sit down, Nicolo."

"The screens, Papà. Please."

For forty years the Sabatini dining room had shown family photographs on the three white screens that hung above the sideboard.

They were showing the first slide now, a wedding from 1984.

I put my napkin on the table.

I had built the next slides the night before, on the old laptop, lying in the dark with Nico's hand on my hip.

I had set them to run at the end of the toast, and I only had to watch.

The wedding photo vanished.

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