My Mafia Husband Called Me Unfaithful Then I Married His Enemy novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: The Empty Chair

Alberto didn't dismiss the table.

He waited until the doors had closed on Vittoria and the noise had died.

Then he turned his heavy head toward his son.

"Tommaso. Stand up."

Tommaso stood.

The room understood what was coming before I did.

"For six years you sat beside a woman who built this," Alberto said.

"A doctor told you what had been done to your wife, and you did not read the page.

"Tonight your wife put the proof in front of you, and you still looked at Vittoria first."

"Papa."

"I made you heir because I thought you were careful. You were only trusting."

A capo looked down at his plate.

"The heir's chair is empty as of tonight," Alberto said.

"In the spring, this table will vote. You will not be on the ballot."

Tommaso's face did not change.

He nodded.

"Yes, Papa."

"You keep your name. You keep Saturdays with your son, if your son wants them.

"You earn the rest where he can see it."

Alberto looked at me.

"Is that enough?"

I didn't answer for a moment.

"It's enough for tonight," I said. "Thank you for the paper, Don Galli."

"Elisa."

"I'd like my son now."

He signaled the housekeeper, and she went up the stairs.

Dario came down in the rocket pajamas with a coat over them, holding the nurse's hand.

Both shoes were on the wrong feet.

He stopped on the last step.

Then he walked the length of the hall with every man at the table turned to watch him.

He put his arms up.

I knelt and picked him up.

He smelled of soap and warm toast.

"Mama."

"I'm here."

"Is Aunt Vittoria in trouble?"

"Yes."

He thought about it, with his chin on my shoulder.

"Grandma isn't a bill," he said.

I closed my eyes.

"No, baby. She never was."

"I said it wrong."

"You didn't know."

"I know now."

I held him until my arms ached, and then I held him some more.

Massimo was waiting by the door, with the blue bag over one shoulder.

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