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The thought was radical, shifting truths inside him, tilting the world so his perspective was sharper, clearer.
Rafael reached over and took Allegra’s hand; surprise flickered across her face as he laced his fingers through hers. He didn’t speak; he didn’t think he had the words. But he hoped she knew what he was trying to say.
* * *
The city was resplendent with autumn colour as they took a cab from the airport to Allegra’s mother’s apartment in the less fashionable end of Park Avenue, skirting Harlem. Allegra had slept for much of the flight, taking comfort from Rafael’s silent support. He hadn’t said much, but the mood had shifted between them, the tension focused outward rather than inside. Allegra rested her hand on his shoulder as she dozed and prayed that this would be what she wanted it too—closure. Peace.
Jennifer’s expression was almost comical in its shock as she took in the sight of both of them standing in the doorway of her apartment. Her hand fluttered towards her throat and her face paled. ‘Allegra...and you must be Vitali.’
‘Rafael Vitali,’ Rafael answered in a low, gravelly voice. ‘Marco’s son.’
‘I never met him.’ Jennifer’s expression had cleared, hardened. She was, Allegra realised with a sinking feeling, going to put up a front.
‘Mother, may we come in?’
‘Of course. Have you...have you come all the way from Sicily?’
‘This very afternoon,’ Rafael answered. They followed Jennifer into her sitting room where she perched on a white leather sofa, eyebrows elegantly arced.
‘What a lovely surprise.’
‘Is it?’ Allegra asked quietly, and Jennifer’s eyes narrowed.
‘What is that supposed to mean?’
Allegra took a deep breath. ‘Mother, Marco Vitali was accused of embezzlement and lost his business as a result.’
‘I told you that,’ Jennifer answered with a dismissive flick of fingers. She shot Rafael a quick, wary glance. ‘I’m sorry for it, of course, but it has nothing to do with me.’
‘He killed himself as a result.’
Jennifer’s expression didn’t change. ‘Again, I’m sorry.’
‘There was never any proof it was him, though,’ Allegra continued, determined to see this through. She and Rafael both needed to have this reckoning. ‘The only so-called proof was that someone close to Papa told him it was Marco.’
Jennifer shrugged her bony shoulders. ‘So?’
‘So, who was that person? And who really did take the money? Because it was someone close to my father, someone he trusted.’
‘You flew all the way to New York to talk about this?’ Jennifer demanded, her lips twisting in a sneer. ‘I suppose he put you up to it?’ she added with a glare at Rafael.
‘I did not,’ Rafael returned, his voice a low thrum in his chest. ‘In fact, I did not want her to make the trip in her condition. But I realised I did want to know. Not for my sake,’ he emphasised, his voice lowering to a growl of menacing intent, ‘but for Allegra’s.’
‘What...?’ Allegra turned to him, her lips parting in wordless shock.
‘If your mother is guilty,’ Rafael said, ‘then she affected your life as much as mine.’ He turned to Jennifer, skewering her with a gaze full of knowledge and accusation. ‘Because that’s why her father stayed away, isn’t it? You made him.’
Jennifer’s mouth dropped open and for a few seconds she struggled to speak. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she finally blustered.
‘No,’ Rafael answered, so firm, so sure. ‘You do know. Because you tried to use Allegra as a bargaining chip.’
‘What?’ Allegra’s mind raced. ‘How do you know...?’ she demanded of Rafael, the words torn from her.
‘I don’t. I’m guessing.’ He nailed Jennifer with a look. ‘And I’m right.’
Jennifer glared at him for a full minute, and then she rose from the sofa, flouncing over to the bar where she poured herself a stiff drink. Allegra watched her, her heart seeming to beat its way up her throat.
‘Mother, is that true? Did you threaten Papa? Is that why—?’
