Chapter 12
Vincent did not deny it.
Valentina looked at him.
“Why?”
The old capo’s hands rested flat on the table.
“I gave Gerald the key two years ago.”
Gerald smiled.
Finally.
Another crack in Valentina’s circle.
She kept her gaze on Vincent.
“For what?”
“He said the tunnel should be reopened in case the estate ever needed an evacuation route.”
“Did you believe him?”
“At first.”
“And later?”
Vincent looked toward Gerald.
His face hardened.
“I started asking questions.”
Gerald scoffed.
“You started panicking.”
Vincent ignored him.
“He was meeting men down there.”
“Greco men?”
“No.”
That surprised everyone.
“Who?”
Vincent hesitated.
Then named three younger Carbone soldiers.
Men currently assigned to Gerald.
Valentina understood.
Gerald had been building loyalty underground long before Greco returned.
Not a sudden coup.
A patient one.
Gerald grinned.
“Loyalty isn't treason.”
Valentina looked at him.
“Secret loyalty to you?”
His smile widened.
“Better than blind loyalty to a ring.”
Evelyn rolled her eyes.
“Oh, please.”
Gerald snapped:
“You don't get to mock me anymore.”
She looked amused.
“I've been mocking you for years.”
The cruelty between them had become almost casual.
Gerald's face reddened.
Valentina cut through.
“Vincent.”
The old capo straightened.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
His eyes lowered.
“Because I thought you would remove him immediately.”
Gerald laughed.
Vincent continued.
“And part of me thought his complaint was fair.”
Valentina listened.
No anger.
That made Vincent look up.
“You were young.”
“I am young.”
“You moved fast.”
“Yes.”
“You trusted your own instincts more than older men.”
Valentina's thumb touched her ring.
Then stopped.
“Also true.”
Gerald frowned.
He hated seeing her accept criticism without collapsing.
Vincent continued.
“I thought giving him space would keep the family together.”
Valentina looked toward Lily’s empty chair.
“Did it?”
Vincent’s face tightened.
“No.”
Silence.
Then Greco spoke.
“You all keep pretending this started with Gerald.”
Valentina looked at him.
Greco nodded toward Evelyn.
“She contacted me before Gerald ever did.”
Gerald turned sharply.
“We know that.”
“No.”
Greco’s voice hardened.
“You know she contacted me three years ago.”
A pause.
“She contacted someone else before me.”
Evelyn’s face changed.
Finally.
A real reaction.
Valentina saw it.
“Who?”
Greco looked at her.
“The man who ordered the Harbor Street killing.”
Gerald stopped breathing.
Valentina's eyes became cold.
Evelyn smiled slowly.
But this time it was forced.
Greco continued.
“She didn't order your men killed.”
Evelyn snapped:
“Careful.”
He ignored her.
“But she knew the meeting was happening.”
Gerald stared at his wife.
“You knew?”
Evelyn said nothing.
His voice rose.
“You knew those men were walking into an ambush?”
She looked at him.
Then smiled again.
“They were your men.”
The sentence detonated across the garden.
May you like
Gerald’s face emptied.
Evelyn’s revenge had begun long before the soda can.
