The Waitress Everyone Ignored Saved the Mafia Boss, Then He Saw the Scars Her Ex Used to Mock

Marco requested to see me before his formal transfer.

The answer was no.

That was my answer, at least.

Detective Alvarez relayed the request. Sofia advised against it. Ruth said absolutely not unless she could bring a frying pan. Jack said nothing until I asked him directly.

"What do you think?"

We were in Sofia's office after the final mediation session. The agreement had been signed with a new verification pen, three independent witnesses, and enough cameras to make Victor's ghost nervous.

Jack stood near the window.

"I think Marco wants one last room to control."

"Then why ask for me?"

"Because he failed to make you disappear."

I looked down at my hands.

"Do you want me to refuse?"

"Yes."

The honesty surprised me.

He turned.

"But I am not the person he asked."

"Would it help the case?"

"Maybe. He might say something useful. He might also try to carve into whatever part of you Victor missed."

That sentence settled between us.

"I am not as fragile as everyone thinks."

"I know."

"Do you?"

His eyes held mine.

"Fragile things do not survive pressure. You did. That does not mean you should be pressed again for other people's convenience."

I had no answer.

In the end, I agreed to meet Marco with Detective Alvarez, Sofia, and a recording device present. Jack was not allowed in the room.

He did not like that.

He accepted it.

Progress, Sofia called it.

Marco looked smaller in the interview room.

Not weak.

Never that.

But reduced, as if the softness had been a coat he removed when no longer useful.

His silver hair was still neat. His hands were cuffed to the table.

When I entered, he smiled.

"The coffee girl."

I sat across from him.

"Lily Bennett."

"Yes. You have a name now."

"I had one before."

His smile thinned.

"Did you?"

Sofia shifted beside me, but I did not look away.

Marco leaned back.

"I wanted to see the woman who cost me Chicago."

"You cost yourself Chicago."

"No. I planned. I waited. I bled beside him. I buried men for his father. I kept Jack alive when he was too young to know how many knives pointed at him. Then he grew up and decided peace made him righteous."

"Peace made him inconvenient."

Marco's eyes sharpened.

There it was.

Truth disliked being named.

"You know nothing about our world."

"I know men use worlds as excuses."

Detective Alvarez's pen paused.

Marco studied me.

"He is interested in you."

My stomach tightened.

"That is not relevant."

"Of course it is. Jack likes broken things. Makes him feel less like his father."

Old words.

Old hook.

Broken.

Damage.

Baggage.

I felt the pull.

Then I thought of Noah holding his robot.

The right piece inside all along.

"I'm not broken," I said.

Marco smiled.

"No?"

"No. I was hurt. That is different."

The smile faded.

For the first time, he looked truly annoyed.

Good.

"Why did you ask for me?"

Marco's eyes slid toward the recorder.

"Because Victor will talk. Enzo will profit. Jack will pretend he never doubted me. But you..."

"Me?"

"You saw the room. Perhaps you can appreciate the design."

He leaned forward as far as the cuffs allowed.

"There are more rooms."

Sofia went still.

Detective Alvarez said, "Meaning?"

Marco looked at me, not him.

"Men who wanted Jack gone did not all sit at that table. Some wear badges. Some sign permits. Some approve dock inspections. I was not the illness, Miss Bennett. I was a symptom with better manners."

My mouth went dry.

"Names," Detective Alvarez said.

Marco sat back.

"I will trade those with someone who understands value."

"You mean Jack," I said.

"I mean power."

I stood.

"Then we are done."

Marco's eyes flashed.

"Tell Jack I smiled."

"No."

That stopped him.