Chapter 11
Gerald took his time.
He enjoyed being asked.
“That locket has been sitting in a Cross safe for five years.”
Alessandro stared.
Vivienne looked toward her brother.
“You said it came from an estate sale.”
Gerald laughed.
“You believed that?”
Her face hardened.
“Answer him.”
Gerald looked at Alessandro.
“Your wife gave it to my father.”
Silence.
Alessandro’s breathing changed.
“When?”
“A month before she died.”
“Why?”
Gerald smiled.
“Because Elena knew something about you.”
Alessandro did not react.
Gerald seemed disappointed.
He continued.
“She knew your father had once promised the Cross family a permanent seat beside yours.”
One older capo shifted.
Alessandro noticed.
Gerald did too.
“There.”
He pointed.
“They remember.”
Alessandro looked toward the old men.
One nodded reluctantly.
Decades earlier, Gerald and Vivienne’s father, Thomas Cross, had helped save the Carbone organization during a bloody split.
Alessandro’s father promised him lasting influence.
Then Thomas later betrayed a council order.
The promise died with his rank.
Gerald never accepted that.
Vivienne looked at him.
“You told me Alessandro’s father stole it.”
Gerald smiled.
“I simplified.”
Alessandro stared.
“And Elena?”
Gerald’s eyes hardened.
“She found out Thomas was trying to rebuild his faction.”
“She confronted him.”
“She gave him the locket as proof she came alone.”
Nico looked toward Gerald.
“You kept it.”
“Yes.”
Vivienne’s face became colder.
“You used Elena’s locket to make me think her people would follow me.”
Gerald shrugged.
“They might have.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You used her to make me hate Lily.”
Gerald’s smile became vicious.
“Don't flatter yourself.”
“You hated Lily because Alessandro loved her.”
Vivienne’s face tightened.
Gerald continued.
“I merely gave your jealousy a history lesson.”
The insult landed.
Alessandro watched his fiancée absorb it.
Then look toward the house.
Toward Lily.
For one second, shame appeared.
Then Vivienne hardened again.
“I still won't apologize for expecting discipline.”
Nora stared at her.
“You whipped me for giving a child a drink.”
Vivienne turned.
“And I would do it again if you defied me the same way.”
There it was.
No redemption.
Not yet.
Maybe never.
Alessandro looked toward Marco.
“Bring Lily inside permanently.”
Vivienne laughed.
“Hide her.”
Her voice dripped contempt.
“That has always been your solution.”
Alessandro looked at her.
“No.”
A pause.
“I’m removing her from you.”
The distinction landed.
Then one of the capos spoke.
“Boss.”
Alessandro turned.
“We need to tell you something about the locket.”
Gerald’s face changed.
The capo looked at him.
“Thomas Cross never left that meeting with Elena.”
Silence.
Gerald’s smile disappeared.
“What?”
The capo continued.
“He was removed that same night.”
“By whose order?”
The old man looked toward Alessandro.
“Mine.”
Everyone froze.
Alessandro frowned.
The capo shook his head.
“Not yours.”
He pointed toward the council room.
May you like
“Elena’s.”
The late wife Gerald had used as a symbol of weakness had personally dismantled his father’s attempted faction years ago.
