Chapter 2 – The Debt No Money Could Pay
Chapter 2 – The Debt No Money Could Pay
The restaurant slowly returned to life.
Forks clinked again.
The pianist cautiously resumed playing.
Rain continued to fall outside, softer now.
Sophie carefully handed Matteo back to his father.
Dominic accepted him awkwardly, as though afraid he might wake him.
"You hold him like this."
She adjusted his arm.
"Support his stomach."
"Keep him close."
"He needs to feel your heartbeat."
Dominic obeyed without argument.
Matteo slept peacefully against his chest.
The hardened crime boss looked less like a king of the underworld...
...and more like a terrified new father.
Manager Richard nearly fainted when Dominic reached into his jacket.
A thick envelope landed on the table.
"Fifty thousand dollars."
Sophie looked at it.
Then pushed it back.
"I wasn't helping you."
"I was helping him."
Dominic frowned.
"Everyone has a price."
"No."
She smiled gently.
"Everyone has a need."
"My need ended four years ago."
The words struck harder than any insult.
Dominic slowly closed the envelope.
"You refuse my money?"
"I refuse payment."
"But if you really want to thank me..."
She glanced around the dining room.
"Tell your men to stop making everyone afraid."
Even the bodyguards looked uncomfortable.
Dominic looked around for the first time that night.
He saw trembling waiters.
Terrified diners.
A manager soaked in nervous sweat.
A little girl hiding behind her mother's chair.
He hadn't noticed any of them before.
His presence alone had turned dinner into captivity.
He quietly looked at his guards.
"Stand down."
"But, Boss—"
"Outside."
Every one of them obeyed.
Within seconds, the dining room felt twice as large.
People breathed again.
Dominic looked back at Sophie.
"You've given orders to me twice tonight."
"And somehow..."
May you like
A faint smile touched his lips.
"I'm still listening."
