Chapter 14
Lucinda stared at Preston.
“You told them I wanted Sebastian’s place.”
Preston shrugged.
“You've wanted it since you learned who your father was.”
“No.”
His expression hardened.
“Don't rewrite yourself now.”
Lucinda’s hand curled.
“I wanted his acknowledgment.”
Her voice shook.
“I wanted Salvatore to say I existed.”
Preston smiled cruelly.
“And when he didn't, you spent twenty years hating the man who got everything.”
Lucinda looked toward Sebastian.
Then at the ruined heritage display.
The brass plaques.
The portraits.
Her whole life reflected in names.
She whispered:
“I wanted a place.”
Preston stepped closer.
“I was giving you one.”
“By removing him?”
“Yes.”
“By using Elisa?”
He rolled his eyes.
“One sick child for one night.”
Lucinda slapped him again.
He turned back with fury.
This time Sebastian stepped between them.
Not to protect Preston.
To stop the room becoming his script again.
Preston stared at him.
“You still need to stand between us?”
Sebastian’s voice remained flat.
“No.”
He looked toward Lucinda.
“She doesn't need another man deciding what she does when she’s angry.”
Lucinda’s breathing slowed.
That sentence reached deeper than he intended.
Preston’s eyes flashed.
“You think this makes you family now?”
Sebastian turned.
“No.”
A pause.
“Blood made us family.”
His gaze hardened.
“What we do next decides whether that means anything.”
Preston laughed.
“You really believe that?”
“Yes.”
Sebastian looked toward the assembled capos.
Then spoke without raising his voice.
“Preston Caradonna has no crew after tonight.”
Preston’s smile disappeared.
“No access to my men.”
“No seat at my table.”
“No Caradonna protection.”
Several capos shifted.
Nobody objected.
That was the real punishment.
Not a punch.
Isolation.
Preston looked around.
Men who once answered his calls now avoided his eyes.
He turned toward Lucinda.
“Come on.”
She did not move.
His face hardened.
“I said come.”
Lucinda’s eyes lifted.
For twenty years, perhaps that tone worked.
Not now.
“No.”
One word.
Preston stared.
She removed her wedding ring.
His face changed.
Real fear.
Finally.
“You're choosing him?”
Lucinda looked toward Sebastian.
Then toward the staircase.
“No.”
Her voice became quiet.
“I’m choosing not to be chosen for.”
She placed the ring on the table.
Preston’s breathing became faster.
The arrogance cracked.
Then Sebastian added:
“Lucinda.”
She looked at him.
“You’re not walking away clean.”
Her face hardened.
“I know.”
“You hurt Elisa.”
“I know.”
“You humiliated her because she reminded you what being loved looked like.”
Lucinda closed her eyes.
That landed.
Sebastian continued.
“You don't come near her.”
“How long?”
“That isn't your question to answer.”
Lucinda nodded slowly.
No argument.
Preston laughed bitterly.
“Look at you.”
He stared at his wife.
“Begging for permission from the brother who stole your life.”
Lucinda turned.
Her eyes were dry now.
“No.”
She looked at Salvatore’s acknowledgment.
“You stole my life.”
May you like
Preston’s face emptied.
For the first time, his last lie had nowhere left to hide.
