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“It’s just a lot. I’ve seen a hundred guys come and go, but Pete was different.” Luca bit the inside of his cheek and hung his head. “Opening this would mean he’s really gone.” When his eyes met mine, they were full of tears he hadn’t shed before or after the funeral.
“Why don’t we wait until you’re home?” I rested my hand on top of his and squeezed.
He shook his head. “No. Let’s do it now.”
Guilt that I hadn’t thought through bringing the box to Luca in jail ate at me as I watched him hold it. Fingers shaking, he gently opened the paper top. Inside was a square, velvet jewelry box and a folded piece of paper. Luca set the box on the table and hesitantly removed the piece of paper. “A note,” he croaked out.
While he read, the paper creased in his tight grip, and Luca sniffed. After a couple minutes, he handed me the letter and took the jewelry box in his hand. When he snapped it open, a sob left his lips.
Cushioned in black velvet was a signet ring with an engraved M. I dropped the letter on the table and scooted my chair closer. “Luca?”
He wiped his eyes and took the ring between his thumb and forefinger. “It’s my dad’s ring.”
I gasped and looked between him and the ring. “But I thought . . .”
“Me too. Apparently, Pete took it and saved it for me.” He leaned his head toward the letter. “He thought I was better than my dad and would do the right thing for the family.” A sad laugh fell from his lips. “He’d be so disappointed.” His pained eyes stayed on the ring as he mumbled, tears streaming freely down his cheeks. “I haven’t even found his killer.”
“I might have an idea on that.”
Luca frowned at me, fisting the ring in his hand.
“Lorenzo.”
“How do you know?” He sat up, his sad gaze hardening into anger.
“He said something at the Fourth of July Gala that makes me think if he didn’t do it, he ordered it.”
He slammed his fist on the table. “Fuck. And I’m stuck in here.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have told you.”
“No. You did the right thing.” He exhaled deeply and picked up my hand, kissing each knuckle. “You’re one of the few people I know who will tell me how it is. It’s one of the things I love about you.” The fluorescent light above us flickered, sucking some of the warmth from the moment. Luca put the ring back and snapped the velvet box closed. “Can you take this home with you? I don’t want anything to happen to it.”
“Of course.” I put it in my purse while he folded the note and slid it into his pocket. “How much time are you allowed with your lawyer?”
A knock at the door startled us. Through the tiny window, Fern stared at me with an awkward smile. At least the bitch could read a room.
Luca turned away from the door and used the sleeve of his jumpsuit to wipe his face. When he turned back around, he was a blank slate.
Fern inched the door open, sticking her head through the gap. “Sorry to bother you. I left my purse.” She pointed to the large tan tote in the chair next to me.
Standing, I picked it up and took it to the door. The heel of my shoe caught on something, and when I glanced down, Fern did too. My black, lacy underwear stood in stark contrast to the sterile white tile. Grinning, I handed her the bag and scooped up my panties. “Oops. Almost forgot them. How embarrassing.”
Fern stammered, slowly disappearing out the door until it clicked shut. I watched her race down the hallway through the tiny window, laughter bubbling up when she struggled to get buzzed out.
“Should we get new counsel?” Luca asked from behind me.
“No. Let her keep doing what she’s doing, but I think it’s time to bring in some help to get Tootsie and Zoe home. Then we won’t need her.”
“You have a plan?”
“I think so.”
