Chapter 7
Mateo did not deny it.
Gerald looked triumphant again.
“Go on.”
The old capo stared at Evelyn.
“How do you know?”
She smiled.
“That’s not the question.”
Gerald slammed one palm onto the table.
“Say it.”
Mateo’s breathing slowed.
Valentina watched his hands.
They were steady.
His eyes were not.
Finally:
“Carlo said if Greco ever returned under Carbone protection…”
Greco’s expression sharpened.
“…then someone inside the family had already betrayed him.”
Silence.
Gerald laughed.
“You mean her.”
He pointed at Valentina.
“She let Greco stand here.”
Mateo looked at him.
“No.”
His voice hardened.
“The betrayal had to happen before Greco entered.”
Gerald stopped.
Valentina looked toward the iron key.
Then toward Evelyn.
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“So now I'm the traitor?”
Mateo answered:
“You brought him in.”
“I invited a conversation.”
“You opened a buried route.”
Gerald cut in.
“Because Valentina made ordinary negotiation impossible.”
His eyes swept the capos.
“You see?”
“She closes every door, then calls us traitors when we use a window.”
Valentina looked at him.
“You hid a key under a soda can.”
Gerald smiled.
“Efficient.”
“You terrified my daughter to protect it.”
“Necessary.”
The answer came without shame.
Lily was inside now.
That was the only reason Valentina let the silence last.
Gerald misread it again.
He leaned closer.
“You want me to apologize?”
His eyes hardened.
“Fine.”
He raised his voice toward the house.
“Sorry, Lily.”
Mocking.
Cruel.
“Next time Uncle Gerald will label the cooler so even a toddler can understand which things are above her station.”
Mateo’s face tightened.
Valentina's eyes became cold.
Gerald smiled.
“There.”
“That look.”
He tapped his own cheek.
“Use it.”
Valentina did not.
His smile faltered.
Evelyn watched.
Then Valentina asked:
“Why did Greco need to see me strike you?”
Gerald said nothing.
Evelyn answered.
“Because half the old men here think you're too young.”
Valentina looked at the capos.
Evelyn continued.
“The other half think motherhood made you cautious.”
Her tone sharpened.
“I wanted them to see what happens when someone scratches your little girl.”
She smiled.
“You stop being a boss.”
A pause.
“You become a mother with armed employees.”
The insult landed.
Valentina's face remained still.
“And then?”
Evelyn lifted one shoulder.
“Gerald challenges.”
“Greco supports.”
“Vincent stays neutral.”
Her eyes moved toward the older capo.
Vincent looked away.
Gerald’s smile returned.
Valentina saw it.
They had counted votes before lunch.
This was not spontaneous.
Then Lily reappeared at the doorway.
The nanny tried to stop her.
Lily held something small in her palm.
“Mommy.”
Valentina turned.
The child walked toward her carefully.
“I found this by Aunt Evelyn’s bag.”
A black bead.
No.
A tiny silver charm shaped like a serpent.
Greco’s symbol.
Evelyn’s face changed.
Barely.
Lily pointed toward her necklace.
“There was another one here.”
Evelyn’s hand immediately rose to the chain beneath her dress.
Too late.
Valentina saw it.
So did Greco.
His face became unreadable.
Valentina’s voice dropped.
“Show me the necklace.”
Evelyn smiled.
“No.”
Greco spoke behind her.
“You should.”
Gerald turned toward him.
May you like
Greco’s eyes never left Evelyn.
“Because that pendant belonged to my brother.”
