My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 677

Chapter 677

INSPECTED. CLEARED.

The Capone guards had gone through every single thing inside before allowing it anywhere near me.

If there had been a phone. It would’ve been taken. If there had been a tracking device. It would’ve disappeared. If there had been anything dangerous. I never would’ve seen this box.

I carried it to my desk then I slowly lifted the lid. The smell of fresh paper drifted out, a stack of photographs tied together with a thin black ribbon.

My fingers trembled as I untied it. The first picture stole my breath. Tasha and Jasmine were standing beside Dad.

Both of them were smiling. Behind them stood a modest apartment building with clean brick walls, flower boxes beneath the windows, and trees lining the sidewalk.

The next picture showed the inside. A bright living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms. A dining table already set up, another photograph.

Tasha was holding a ring of keys. Jasmine had one arm around her shoulders. They looked safe. Behind the picture there was a full address of the apartment in Philly.

Beneath the photographs was a folder. Inside were copies of lease documents. Both of their names were printed across the top.

The apartment belonged to them.

The next page made me stop breathing. There were bank statements, new accounts, enough money had already been deposited for them to pay rent, buy furniture, and live comfortably while they found jobs.

I read the numbers twice, then a third time. Dad hadn’t done half of what I’d asked. He’d done all of it.

At the very bottom of the box rested a single envelope.

I opened it carefully and inside was one handwritten note.

The handwriting was unmistakably my father’s…

Figlia mia,

A promise made is a debt already paid. Your friends are safe because they matter to you. As for you… don’t mistake this for me trying to buy your trust. Trust isn’t purchased, it is earned, one choice at a time.

When you’re ready, come home. A place beside me has remained empty for six years. I have no intention of letting it stay that way.

-Dad

I read it again, then folded the letter with shaking hands and finally decided to join everyone for dinner after a month.

A whole month since Mom…

Raphael looked at me too, only for a second then he looked back down at his plate like I hadn’t walked into the room at all.

I pulled out the chair, sat down and nobody made a big deal out of it. Claire passed me a basket of bread as naturally as if I’d been here yesterday.

Silvio immediately pointed at my plate, “Somebody write today’s date down.”

Dante snorted, “I already did.”

Adriano reached for his glass, “I told you she’d eventually remember this family gives out free food.”

Silvio gasped, “So that’s the secret? I thought it was our sparkling personalities.”

Dante looked around the table, “What personalities? We’re all terrible people.”

“Speak for yourself,” Silvio replied, “I happen to be delightful.”

“You threatened a waiter yesterday.”

Silvio frowned, “He brought me sparkling water. I asked for still.”

Adriano sighed dramatically, “See? This is what I deal with,” then he glanced toward Raphael, “And him. He hasn’t smiled in three geological eras.”