Chapter 9
Gerald stepped away from his wife.
For the first time since the luncheon began, he looked at her as an enemy.
“You said this was about the chair.”
“It was.”
Evelyn looked bored.
“And something else.”
“You used me.”
She laughed.
“Gerald, everyone uses you.”
His face hardened.
“You're loud, angry, and desperate to be called important.”
Her voice dripped contempt.
“You're practically a public entrance.”
Several capos looked away.
Gerald’s breathing grew heavier.
Evelyn enjoyed it.
“You wanted Valentina humiliated.”
“I wanted her removed.”
“And I gave you a reason.”
“You gave me a child.”
Evelyn’s eyes narrowed.
“I gave you a soda can.”
Her smile returned.
“You were the idiot with the belt.”
That hit him.
Gerald moved.
Valentina stepped between them.
Not to protect Evelyn.
To stop the garden becoming exactly what Evelyn wanted.
Gerald glared at her.
“Move.”
“No.”
“She used my family.”
Valentina’s voice stayed calm.
“You used mine first.”
Gerald stopped.
The truth landed.
He looked toward the house where Lily had disappeared.
Then away.
Greco spoke.
“Enough.”
Everyone turned.
He looked at Evelyn.
“You said Gerald understood everything.”
Evelyn shrugged.
“He understood enough.”
Greco’s jaw tightened.
The alliance was cracking now too.
Valentina asked:
“What did you think you were coming here to do?”
Greco looked at her.
“Witness a challenge.”
“And after?”
“Restore some territory.”
“To yourself.”
“Yes.”
No shame.
Gerald scoffed.
“He would have been gone again by morning.”
Greco smiled.
“There.”
He looked at Valentina.
“That is why I came.”
Gerald frowned.
Greco continued.
“To hear him say it himself.”
Gerald’s face changed.
Greco had never trusted him.
Evelyn did not either.
The two people Gerald believed were helping him take power had each been planning around his failure.
Valentina saw it.
Then Greco looked at her.
“Your father killed Luca.”
Evelyn’s eyes hardened.
Greco continued.
“But not for the reason she was told.”
The garden went silent.
Evelyn turned sharply.
“What?”
Greco looked at her.
“You were nine.”
“I know what happened.”
“No.”
His voice softened.
“You know what your mother told you.”
Evelyn’s jaw clenched.
“She watched Carlo’s men drag him out.”
“Yes.”
“And he never came home.”
“Yes.”
“So don't stand there and clean it up now.”
Greco looked at Mateo.
“Tell her.”
Mateo’s face became grim.
Evelyn laughed.
“Of course.”
She looked at Valentina.
“Now the loyal dogs invent a bedtime story for their little princess.”
Valentina did not react.
Mateo stepped forward.
“Luca wasn't killed because he challenged Carlo.”
Evelyn’s smile tightened.
“He sold a route to the Bartolo crew.”
Greco closed his eyes.
Evelyn looked at him.
“You knew?”
Greco said nothing.
Her voice sharpened.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
The word hit.
Mateo continued.
“Three men died.”
Evelyn’s breathing changed.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You're lying.”
Mateo shook his head.
“He did worse.”
Evelyn stared.
Mateo looked toward the house.
Toward Lily.
Then back to Evelyn.
“Luca offered a child to settle the retaliation.”
Greco’s face hardened.
Evelyn stopped moving.
May you like
Mateo’s voice dropped.
“He offered Valentina.”
