Summary

Chapter 89 opens with Elena focused on the release of her book. She is walking back to her apartment when the Solara brothers appear in their car. Michele is furious that Elena has written terrible things about the neighborhood and its people. He shows her the magazine. Elena notices only that there is a photo printed of her and Tina; the caption states that Tina is her daughter. As they pull away, she hears Marcello tell Michele, “Lila manipulates her and she doesn’t even realize it” (282).

In Chapter 90, Elena reads the article and indeed finds that the writer spoke at length not about the novel itself, but about the shabby neighborhood held hostage by the Solara brothers. It speculates about their legal and illegal activities. Elena finally sees the neighborhood for what it is—a place of great corruption and terror, laid...