Page 64 of Dante

Finally, among the judgmental faces a friendly one appears.

“Gina!” Angie rushes over. “My God, you look beautiful. This outfit is even better than the one you wore last night.”

Before she can say more, Silvio appears beside us. He kisses both Angie and me on the cheek. “Ah, the two lovely flowers of the family.”

“Congratulations, Uncle Silvio,” I say. “This is really a big moment. What would your ancestor say if he saw himself celebrated like this?”

Silvio smiles. “He’d take it in stride. I’m just glad the city recognizes our family for the powerhouse it is. And I’m happy to see you, Gina. Very happy indeed.”

Silvio’s tone is odd. It makes me think there’s something he’s not telling me. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, but I force a smile.

“I’m happy to be here tonight, Uncle.”

“You’ll be even happier by the end of the evening,” he says, drifting away.

“What the hell does that mean?” I ask Angie as soon as he’s gone.

“No idea. But that’s Silvio for you. Full of mystery. Where’s Biscotti?”

“I left him at home. After Silvio nearly confiscated him last night, figured it was safer for everyone.”

We both laugh. When I spot Lorenzo in the crowd, I excuse myself and walk over to see him.

“Gina,” he says in greeting. “I saw you walk the red carpet from the window. Well done.”

“I had a good teacher,” I tell him. While we have a moment alone, I decide to take a risk. “Has Dante said anything about the restaurant?”

Lorenzo’s lips spread into a mysterious smile. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

“I’ve tried,” I say, rolling my eyes. “He doesn’t respond.”

“That’s his way. Don’t be impatient. Good things come to those who wait.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

A moment later, the lights flicker. Robert Smith takes the microphone and delivers a perfunctory greeting.

Then he calls for Dante to take the stage.

The crowd quiets immediately. And soon Dante has them under his spell. He talks about his life as a boy, looking up at the photograph of the man who started the dynasty.

“I’ve often wished that I could meet Salvatore Ricci as a young man,” Dante says. “I want to ask him: What were your failures? And how did you learn from them?”

He pauses. The room is silent. Respectful.

“And you know what? He’s answered me. He said, ‘I would recognize my mistakes for what they were. I would learn from them. And I would change the wrong ways.’”

Dante’s gaze sweeps the room.

“It wasn’t until recently—very recently—that I realized what he meant,” Dante continues. “We don’t have to follow the old ways. We have the freedom now to move forward in a different path. Tonight, we are here to honor Salvatore. And tonight, I hope, will mark the launch of the new direction he recognized but never personally took. I am the torchbearer of that dream.”

The applause is overwhelming, but not universal.

Lorenzo smiles, his expression, proud.

Across the room, I spot Luca nodding in agreement.

Younger members of the family cheer.