Page 48 of Family Secrets

Chapter Twenty

“My son tells me you recently moved from Kansas. How are you liking New Jersey?”

Chiara struggled to keep her composure as she sat across the table from the young woman who’d made her only son smile. The minute she’d stepped from the jet, she demanded Gino tell her what was going on, and why he was being so cryptic. She’d gone to the office to see for herself if the business was indeed legitimate or if it was a glorified brothel. However, what she found nearly took her breath away.

Elizabeth had never been this nervous to meet anyone. Granted, living in a small town all her life didn’t offer her the chance to meet anyone new. “With the exception of a few people, I’ve found it to be a nice change.”

Having seen the looks Felicia gave Elizabeth. “It’s always the few which spoils it for the many,” Chiara surmised, over the rim of her glass of wine. “And my son, how do you find him?”

Elizabeth couldn’t hide the smile at the mention of Gino, choosing her words carefully as she wasn’t certain how much of their relationship he’d shared with his mother. “Giovanni is a good man, despite his circumstances.”

“You mean his job?” Chiara clarified.

Elizabeth tipped her head in confusion, “No, running a car rental is a good and honest profession. What I mean is he’s constantly pulled in several directions. Sully seems to have the help of so many, but Gino carries all the weight.”

Chiara shifted her focus to Gino, a brow raised in question. “Car rental?”

Gino told his mother how loyal Elizabeth was, and here she sat, keeping the secret, even among family.

“Do you enjoy working?” Georgianna, sensing the tension in the air chose that moment to ask her question.

Having nearly forgotten Georgianna was in the room, Elizabeth shot a genuine smile in her direction. “Most of the time, yes. I find numbers relaxing. They help me focus when the world around me seems crazy.”

“And school, did you enjoy your time at university?”

Dipping her head, Elizabeth had never been embarrassed about her bargain-basement education before, but surrounded by luxury, she felt lacking for the first time. “I attended community college, with my family’s financial situation there wasn’t an option to attend a traditional college. When my granny died recently, I had the choice to continue my final year, or move here. Lucky for me, I’d befriended Lisa and she got me the job with the company. I hope to find a school here so I can finish my degree.”

“But still you record the books?” Georgianna questioned, confused as to why her brother would allow this.

“Some, but not all, Georgianna.” Gino added. “Sully monopolizes most of her time with a housecleaning project he’d assigned her. I’ve given her the responsibility of paying my personal accounts and the accounts pertaining to Amato, but not the businesses in New York.”

“Which reminds me,” Elizabeth wiped her mouth. “I found some checks I’d like to show you. After the funeral, of course.”

“May I ask how you befriended Lisa?” Georgianna felt it odd the chances two people from such different backgrounds would meet and form a friendship. One where a recommendation, especially considering the company was a front for money laundering, would be handed out so easily.

“On social media. She and I belonged to the same accounting group. She sent me a friend request and we’ve been friends ever since.”

Georgianna reached across the table, laying her hand over Elizabeth’s. “You have honest eyes, somewhat of a rarity these days.” Looking to her brother, “And your sympathy is genuine, even to a man who didn’t deserve it.”

* * *

“Care to tellme why Elizabeth is sitting at the back of the church?” Chiara questioned her son as the organ played softly overhead, the mahogany coffin containing Jonathan’s body not five feet away. She’d performed her final duty as his wife by giving him a service fit for a king.

Keeping his body forward, Gino ignored Sully’s tears, unable to keep it together since they’d wheeled their father’s casket in an hour ago.

“She insisted I stay with you and the family, considering the fact I haven’t gone through the proper channels to be with her publicly, I’ve asked her to keep our relationship quiet.”

“And do you intend to?” Chiara's question was rhetorical. Despite Felicia’s and Barbara’s disruption, she could see how deeply in love with Elizabeth her son was.

“Absolutely, the meeting is scheduled for later.” With all the Family leaders from around the world in attendance, Niko started the wheels turning, securing a place to have the vote held.

“Then you will forgive me for what I’m about to do.”

Chiara didn’t wait for her son to argue, standing from her seat, she ignored the mass of people staring back at her as she made her way down the center aisle. With her head held high as she’d done for years, she focused on the click of her heels against the marble floor, instead of the hushed conversations camouflaged behind carefully place hands. She walked with purpose and determination, giving every questioning eye something to talk about later as they ate their fill of the astronomically priced food being served in the same house where Jonathan was killed.

Reaching the final pew, Chiara held her hand out to a shocked Elizabeth who sat alone, her skirt tucked around her legs and covered from head to toe in black, a well-loved rosary in her right hand. Having been overjoyed to learn the woman her son chose was a Devoted Catholic, she was pleasantly surprised to see she was telling the truth. Her mannerisms reflecting the proper etiquette for attending a funeral.

“Elizabeth, it is customary for the family to occupy the first two rows during the funeral of a loved one. And while we can’t all say we loved Jonathan; I can certainly attest you belong beside my son.”

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