My Father Sold Me at Eighteen, but the Mafia Lord Was the One in Debt to Me novel · Chapter 23 of 24
Chapter 23: Winter
In December Tampa had its first cold snap, and the reading hall smelled of woodsmoke and wet brick.
I had read the newspaper to the rollers every morning at seven for ten weeks.
My voice had settled low in my chest.
On a Friday night after the last roller went home, I climbed to the third floor with a leather folder under my arm.
Nonna Concetta had come that afternoon.
She had sat in the front row in her black coat with her cane across her knees and listened to me read the obituaries for forty minutes.
When I finished she crossed the floor.
She put both dry hands on my face and kissed me on each cheek.
"Your mother would be proud," she said.
"You have my blessing, and Vincenzo's.
"Now get that man out of my sight before I feed him."
Luca had taken her home and come straight back.
He stood now at the top of the stairs in a dark overcoat.
He took in the empty hall, the lit lamps and the folder in my arms.
"You said nine," I said.
"It's nine," he said.
"You're late."
"It's nine," he said, and a corner of his mouth moved.
"I checked the watch."
I led him down the center aisle between the empty benches.
I climbed the platform and sat in the lector's chair.
I opened the folder on my knee and took a pen out of my hair.
"Montalvo Cigar Company," I said.
"Assignment and restoration of title."
He stood at the foot of the steps with his hands in his coat pockets.
"Sign it," he said.
The rest of this chapter is part of the paid portion of the series. Chapters 1–6 of My Father Sold Me at Eighteen, but the Mafia Lord Was the One in Debt to Me are free to read — start from the beginning, then unlock the rest with coins in the app.
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