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I look up at her. “Don’t think you’re going to like hearing what I’ve got to say.”
Her eyes narrow and her smile fades. “You’re him, aren’t you? You’re the man that killed her. I knew it. You’re him. The man in the mask from the party. You’re Angelo Genovese.”
I shake my head. “Your memory is tainted, and that’s understandable. You think I killed your mother and tried to kill you.”
“Are you going to deny it?”
“That night at the party, the only person I hurt was the man who attacked you.”
“Am I supposed to believe that?”
I nod. “It’s true. I saw him chasing after you when your father gave you the box. Winnie wanted it back so sent him after you. He decided it would be easier to kill you all than to simply snatch it back.”
“Are you saying you didn’t kill anyone?”
“I’m saying that I saved your life. He had the same type of mask as me. That’s why you got us mixed up. The Capo that tried to kill you? His name’s Luigi Sandwell.”
“That’s the sheriff’s name.”
“I’m guessing he only took the job after you moved here. Am I right?”
“I don’t know. I don’t remember.”
“Trust me, he did. Same with his boy, Bobby. Working with Winnie to see when you bring the box into the open. Lot of wolves circling you, Natalie, waiting to see if you try to use that box to get your money. They already hired two men to break into your place and get it back. Relax, I got to them first. Now, I need to see the box.”
She shakes her head. “If it’s so important that all these people want it, why should I trust you?”
“Because I saved your life once and I’m going to do it again. I won’t let anyone hurt you, but we need to hide that box somewhere safe.”
“It’s already in a safe place,” she replies as the food appears at our table. “I’m not hungry,” she adds, getting to her feet before the server’s even walked away. “I’m going home.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“I’ll walk.”
“It wasn’t a request. You’re coming in my car.”
“You’re not my boss, Angelo. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
I grab her arm. “You’re laboring under a misapprehension that you have power over me. You do not. I am in charge of you. I am in charge of your town and everything in it. You will do as you are told or you will regret it. Come with me.”
I lead her outside, not letting go of her until she’s strapped into my car. I climb inside and set off, heading back to her house. “You’re not safe while that box is in the open. You need to work out what it does, and fast. Did your father tell you anything about how it worked?”
“No, never.”
“Never mind. My father knows and I’ll get it out of him sooner or later. I’m sorry it has to be this way, I really am.”
“You didn’t come all this way for a book, did you? You came to steal all that money from me?”
“I was sent to collect the box. Your family owes mine a lot of money. The contents of the vault will cover it.”
I pull up outside her house. “I’m going to ask you a question and I want an honest answer.”
“Go on.”
“Is that my daughter in there?”
She looks at me, and her eyes widen. She nods slowly. “It is.”
