No matter what she tells me, I can’t disguise that fact, and she turns to me and says simply, “Because when you are running for your life, it’s probably best if you don’t run back into the fire. Strategy is key, and time is sometimes not on your side. I had my reasons, and if you’ll hear me out, you will discover what they were.”
Her steely gaze, which is so much like mine, pins me in place and as Joseph holds my hand gently, I prepare for her excuses.
CHAPTER 42
JOSEPH
It helps that I have no emotion, especially when dealing with women like Priscilla Van Der Hudson.
Tiffany is struggling. It’s obvious and I reassure her with a gentle pressure on her hands.
I’m interested in hearing Priscilla’s story. It may shed some light on the mystery, and she leans back in her chair and prepares to deliver a narrative that has been a long time coming.
“When I left, I went home to my mother. It was the only place I could think of. She was horrified that I had left you. She was a formidable woman and her disappointment showed.”
Tiffany nods, apparently agreeing with her late grandmother.
“We tried everything to get you back, Tiffany. The legal route and my mother even enlisted the help of my father, but we got nowhere. I spiraled into depression. I drank—heavily. I spent the night with a guy I met in a bar and woke up disgusted with myself. When I returned home, my mother was dead.”
Tiffany gasps, tears rolling down her face, and Priscilla sighs. “The doctor told me it was a stroke, but I found evidence to the contrary.”
“What evidence?”
“A business card left on the table that wasn’t there before. Morgan Sorcusi. On the back it merely said, I’ll see you next time, Priscilla.”
Tiffany turns to me and the horror in her expression tells me how worried she is because, of course, she is only too aware of Morgan’s capabilities.
“I was so frightened. I could only think of one place to go — the church. They were so kind and the priest that I met arranged for me to take haven in The Order of the Holy Mother of God.”
“My convent?” Tiffany exclaims and Priscilla nods.
“The same. It was no coincidence you discovered the place, Tiffany, but I’ll get to that later.”
She smiles, as if revisiting a happy memory.
“I loved it there. A peaceful retreat that gave me time to reflect. My roomie was a kind woman. Agatha.”
Tiffany’s grip on my hand tightens, but outwardly she shows no emotion. She’s learning.
“I told her everything. She proved a good listener. We became firm friends and when Sister Margaret, the mother superior at the time, arranged a position nearby, I was rather sad to leave.”
“Where did you go?”
Tiffany leans forward and her mother smiles with a soft expression.
“I worked in RJB banking enterprises. I worked for a man called Riordan and, well, we kind of hit it off personally too. We married and were, sorry, are, so happy. Riordan became a partner and soon dealt with corporate clients. Ironically, Enrico was one of them. It didn’t take long for Riordan to realize how much debt Enrico was in and only your inheritances were keeping the company going. I told him about Morgan and the Sorcusi mafia and how worried I was for you all, and he devised a plan to secure your future.”
I lean forward. “What plan?”
“All in good time, Joseph. Humor me.”
I’m actually beginning to like Tiffany’s mom. She thinks like a mafia don, and I have to respect that.
“Riordan met with Enrico and told him something off the record. To make a second will, one that superseded the existing one and to add in protection for his daughters.”
“And father agreed. That surprises me.”
Tiffany sound doubtful.
