Chapter 8
Celeste had worn my mother's necklace every Christmas since the funeral.
Massimo gave it to her.
I knew that.
Everyone did.
She and my mother had been sisters-in-law.
Closest friends.
Almost family before either married into it.
And now Josephine had just placed her beside Grant.
Massimo said one word.
“Bring her.”
Celeste entered ten minutes later.
Sixty-two.
Elegant black dress.
Pearls.
And my mother's gold pendant at her throat.
She looked at Grant.
Then Josephine.
Then me.
Too quickly.
Massimo noticed.
“So.”
Celeste sighed.
“Massimo.”
“Take off the necklace.”
Her face hardened.
“What?”
“The necklace.”
“Why?”
“Because my granddaughter recognizes it.”
Grant closed his eyes.
Celeste saw that.
And understood.
She removed the pendant.
Placed it on the table.
“What exactly am I accused of?”
My father looked at Josephine.
She was fully awake now.
Sitting on my lap.
“Sweetheart.”
Josephine pointed at Celeste.
“She whispers with Daddy.”
Celeste laughed.
“She is three.”
Massimo looked at her.
“So was Isabella when you first taught her to call you Aunt Cece.”
The laugh disappeared.
My father picked up the necklace.
“Grant says a woman approached him.”
Celeste crossed her arms.
“Grant lies.”
“Yes.”
Massimo nodded.
“But badly.”
Silence.
“Did you contact him?”
“No.”
“Did you know about the tunnel?”
“Of course.”
That surprised me.
Massimo didn't react.
“My wife told you?”
Celeste looked at him.
“She told me everything.”
Wrong answer.
My father's face changed.
“What else?”
Celeste realized too late.
Massimo stepped closer.
“What else did Elena tell you?”
Silence.
“The red key?”
Nothing.
“The passage code?”
Nothing.
I stared at my aunt.
All those years.
Christmases.
Birthdays.
Josephine asleep in her arms.
“You knew Grant was hurting me?”
Celeste's eyes shifted.
I felt something tear loose inside me.
“You knew.”
“I knew you had problems.”
Same answer.
Robert's answer.
Men and women protecting violence always seemed to share vocabulary.
“Did you tell him to ask me about Mom?”
No response.
“Did you tell him where to hit me?”
Grant suddenly spoke.
“No.”
I turned.
His face had changed.
“That part was me.”
I almost laughed.
How generous.
Celeste closed her eyes.
Massimo looked between them.
“So you gave him the target.”
She said nothing.
“He supplied the cruelty.”
Nothing.
My father placed the necklace down.
“Why?”
Celeste finally looked at him.
“Because you destroyed everything Elena built.”
The room went quiet.
Massimo frowned.
“What?”
“She wanted this family united.”
“It is.”
“No.”
Celeste shook her head.
“You made it yours.”
“My father made it mine.”
“And you changed it.”
There it was again.
The same accusation Vincent had used.
Changed.
Too soft.
Too willing to negotiate.
Too focused on family instead of domination.
Celeste continued.
“You started letting men leave.”
Massimo stared at her.
“You refused blood debts.”
“Yes.”
“You made deals with Voss.”
“Yes.”
“You weakened us.”
Massimo almost smiled.
“You sound like Vincent.”
“Vincent understood.”
“So you recruited him.”
Silence.
“Robert?”
“He was easy.”
Robert cursed under his breath.
“Grant?”
She looked at him.
“Easier.”
Grant's face tightened.
“And Voss?”
Celeste smiled.
“I never needed him.”
That answered everything.
There had never been a deal with Voss.
Only messages.
Rumors.
Men pretending they spoke for him.
Promises made in his name.
Massimo walked toward her.
“You wanted me frightened enough to surrender control.”
“No.”
She looked at Josephine.
“I wanted you to remember what kind of man survives.”
My father went still.
“You were going to take her.”
Celeste said nothing.
“Where?”
Nothing.
Massimo's voice dropped.
“Where, Celeste?”
Grant suddenly looked at her.
“You said north safe house.”
She didn't look at him.
My father's eyes narrowed.
“You told Grant north.”
Silence.
“So she's somewhere else.”
Celeste finally smiled.
Not kindly.
“You always were slow when Elena wasn't there to think for you.”
I saw Massimo's hand tighten.
But he didn't touch her.
Instead, he smiled back.
“Thank you.”
Celeste frowned.
“For what?”
“For telling me the north house is bait.”
Her smile vanished.
Massimo turned toward one of his men.
“Check the chapel crypt.”
May you like
Celeste went white.
That was all he needed.
