Chapter 3
Lucinda did not deny it.
She lifted one shoulder.
“So I visited him.”
Sebastian stared.
“For three nights?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Her lips curved.
“Maybe he liked me better than you.”
The insult struck harder because she smiled when she said it.
Preston chuckled.
“Elaborate family legend, Sebastian.”
He straightened his cuffs.
“Turns out your father’s final visitor wasn't his beloved son.”
Sebastian’s eyes moved toward him.
Preston held the gaze.
Still arrogant.
Still certain the room belonged partly to him.
Lucinda stepped over a fallen brass plaque.
“Salvatore asked for me.”
“Why?”
“He wanted to talk.”
“About?”
She leaned closer.
“That is between him and me.”
Sebastian’s thumb moved slowly over Elisa’s back.
She had gone quiet.
Watching.
He would not give Lucinda the violence she wanted.
Not while his daughter was in his arms.
He handed Elisa to his sister’s longtime nanny, Clara.
“Take her upstairs.”
Lucinda laughed.
“Good.”
She looked toward Elisa.
“Maybe someone can fix that ridiculous hair before dessert.”
Sebastian turned so slowly the movement itself silenced the room.
Lucinda’s smile held.
Barely.
“Say one more thing about her.”
Preston moved beside his wife.
“She doesn't need your permission to speak.”
Sebastian looked at him.
“No.”
A pause.
“She needs yours to stay brave.”
That landed.
Lucinda turned sharply toward Preston.
For one fraction of a second, the dynamic between them showed.
Preston’s hand rested against the small of her back.
Possessive.
Guiding.
Not comforting.
Sebastian saw it.
So did Orlando.
The old capo’s face changed.
Sebastian noticed.
“What?”
Orlando shook his head.
“Nothing.”
“Wrong answer.”
The old man swallowed.
“Preston was there too.”
Preston laughed immediately.
“I was twenty-one.”
“You were there?”
“I drove Lucinda.”
“To a sealed cellar nobody else could enter?”
Preston’s eyes narrowed.
“You keep making ordinary things sound sinister.”
Sebastian stepped closer.
“How did you know which entrance was open?”
Silence.
Preston recovered.
“Lucinda told me.”
Sebastian looked toward her.
Lucinda’s lips pressed together.
Another mismatch.
Then Sebastian asked:
“What did my father say to you?”
Lucinda did not answer.
Preston did.
“He begged.”
The room stopped.
Sebastian’s head turned.
Preston’s smile froze.
He had spoken too quickly.
Sebastian’s voice became very quiet.
“You just said you waited outside.”
Preston’s breathing changed.
Lucinda looked at him.
“Preston.”
Too late.
Sebastian stepped closer.
“You said he begged.”
Preston’s jaw tightened.
“Lucinda told me.”
Sebastian did not blink.
“What words?”
No answer.
He waited.
Preston tried to smile.
It failed.
Sebastian’s voice dropped further.
“What did my father beg for?”
Preston looked toward Lucinda.
She looked away.
Then Orlando whispered:
“He begged them not to bring Sebastian downstairs.”
Sebastian slowly turned.
Orlando’s face had gone pale.
“What?”
The old capo swallowed.
“I heard him through the door.”
May you like
A pause.
“Your father knew they were planning to bring you next.”
