They Humiliated a Waitress Protecting Her Dog—Unaware a Mafia Boss Was Watching and Ready to Act

Chapter 10

By noon, Belle’s arm was tired from whisking and her feet ached from standing, but she couldn’t stop smiling.

Old Ray had brought a fishing buddy. Gina had brought her son Tommy, who Belle met for the first time over scrambled eggs. The young fisherman couple who’d run out the night of the incident came back and ordered the same soup Veronica had thrown. Belle made it herself, brought it to their table, and watched them eat it with tears in their eyes.

At 1 PM, a delivery van pulled up outside. A man in a uniform carried in a large wooden crate, set it on the counter, and asked Belle to sign for it.

Inside was a new sign. Hand-carved. The letters were deep and clean, stained a dark mahogany, with a single red thread painted through the corner — a tiny, crooked heart.

*Ashford’s Diner. Established by William. Continued by Belle.*

There was no note. No return address.

But Belle knew.

She hung it above the door herself, standing on a chair while Gina held the ladder and Old Ray shouted instructions from his table.

And when she stepped down, she saw him.

Knox Castellano stood on the sidewalk, hands in his coat pockets, looking up at the sign. Caesar sat beside him, his tail sweeping the pavement, his eyes on Belle.

“Not bad,” Knox said.

“I had help.”

“Good.” He turned to go, then stopped. “I’m leaving tomorrow morning. Back to Portland. Caesar’s strong enough for the drive now.”

Something in Belle’s chest tightened.

“He’s coming back,” Knox said. “We both are. Next weekend. I want to try the seafood chowder.”

Belle’s heart started beating again.

“I’ll keep a table for you.” She paused. “Both of you.”

Knox nodded once. Then he walked down the street with the dog at his side, a giant wrinkled mastiff who looked back over his shoulder as they turned the corner, his tail still wagging.