Part 100

"Let me tell you a story that happened forty years ago," Altezza said quietly, listening.

"I came to America at your uncle's request. Arthur had already set foot in this country.

"Your uncle fled because he didn't want to be arranged in marriage by our late father. And because he couldn't return to Italy, he asked me to come and bring all the wealth he had been saving. He did it to start a business so he could live here with your aunt, Brianna.

"I didn't know that Arthur's cancelled engagement would force me to take his place. But I thought, I would accept the engagement because I didn't have someone I loved as much as your uncle loved your aunt.

"But before getting married, I thought I'd spend my bachelor days having fun first.

"Then, someone invited me to go somewhere. A place where I could hire women for a certain period of time. The man said I could practice being a great husband in bed before spending time being the husband of your grandfather's chosen woman.

"At that time, I was