Chapter 1 - THE BUCKET
The bucket hit the concrete with a hard plastic crack.
Gray water rushed across the spotless garage floor and soaked Leo's sneakers.
Helena did not even blink.
She bent, snatched the cleaning cloth from the ground, and shoved it back into his small hands.
"Start over."
Leo looked at the black luxury sedan beside him. His fingers were red from cold water. He had already washed the same wheel three times.
"I did it the way you said."
Helena's smile was thin.
"You scratched my car. Debt gets worked off."
"I didn't scratch it."
Her face hardened.
"If you clean badly, you go hungry."
Leo's eyes dropped.
He lowered himself onto one knee.
At the far end of the estate garage, Carmine Moretti stood beside two security men discussing a delivery schedule. He had been home less than twenty minutes after a three-day business trip.
He heard one word.
"Daddy..."
Not loud.
Barely more than breath.
But Carmine turned.
He saw Leo kneeling beside the wheel.
He saw the soaked pants.
He saw Helena standing over him with the key fob swinging from one finger.
He walked across the garage.
"What's going on?"
Helena stepped between them.
"Nothing. He scratched the Bentley. I'm teaching him responsibility."
"Did you?"
Leo opened his mouth.
Helena answered first.
"Of course he did."
Carmine crouched and took the cloth from his son's hand.
Leo's fingers were shaking.
Helena reached down.
"Come on. You're not finished."
She grabbed for Leo's arm.
Carmine caught her wrist before she touched him.
"Don't," he said.
Then at his face.
"You think I'm hurting him?"
Carmine released her slowly.
"I asked what happened."
"Your son is spoiled because you keep rescuing him."
His lower lip trembled.
Then he whispered, "I didn't scratch the car."
Carmine glanced toward the sedan.
A pale line ran along the rear door.
May you like
"Then who did?"
And for the first time, Carmine noticed the fear in his son's eyes.
