Chapter 12
Gerald laughed.
“No.”
The old capo held his gaze.
“Yes.”
“Elena wasn't council.”
“She didn't need a chair to understand betrayal.”
Gerald’s jaw tightened.
Vivienne stared.
The capo continued.
Elena discovered Thomas Cross had been approaching younger men privately.
Offering territory.
Promising that Alessandro would eventually become too distracted by family to hold the organization together.
The same argument Gerald was making now.
Alessandro’s expression hardened.
History had repeated almost perfectly.
Elena confronted Thomas alone.
Then brought three capos into the room.
Thomas lost his crews that night.
No bloodshed.
No spectacle.
Just isolation.
Gerald stared.
“My father said Alessandro did it.”
“No.”
The capo looked toward him.
“Your father couldn't admit a woman saw through him.”
Vivienne’s mouth tightened.
Gerald’s face darkened.
“He lied.”
“Yes.”
Gerald looked toward Alessandro.
Then laughed bitterly.
“So Elena humiliated him.”
The capo replied:
“Thomas humiliated himself.”
Silence.
Vivienne looked toward the locket.
“You've known this?”
Gerald did not answer.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You knew.”
His silence answered.
He had found the truth years ago.
And hidden it.
Why?
Because resentment against Alessandro was useful.
Because resentment against Elena was even more useful for Vivienne.
Gerald looked at his sister.
“You needed a reason.”
Vivienne’s face changed.
“For what?”
“To marry him.”
The garden went still.
Alessandro stared.
Gerald continued.
“You were always terrified he'd never love you like Elena.”
Vivienne’s eyes flashed.
“So I gave you something stronger than love.”
“What?”
“Competition.”
The cruelty was precise.
Gerald smiled.
“You didn't have to replace Elena.”
“You only had to beat her.”
Vivienne’s breathing became heavier.
He had turned her engagement into a contest with a dead woman.
And she had accepted it.
That did not make her innocent.
It made the manipulation clearer.
Alessandro looked at her.
“You knew Gerald wanted power.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Lily was being used.”
“Yes.”
“You agreed to take her.”
“Yes.”
Her voice remained hard.
No tears.
No begging.
Then Alessandro asked:
“Did you know Gerald planned to keep her?”
Vivienne looked toward her brother.
“No.”
Gerald smiled.
Alessandro continued.
“Would you have stopped him?”
Vivienne’s mouth opened.
Nothing came immediately.
That delay was enough.
Nora looked disgusted.
Vivienne snapped:
“She would have been safe.”
Nora stared.
“She would have been terrified.”
Vivienne rolled her eyes.
“Children survive fear.”
Nora’s face hardened.
“So do servants.”
Vivienne looked at the welt across Nora’s shoulder.
Then away.
For the first time, the words had come back toward her.
Alessandro removed Vivienne’s engagement ring from his pocket.
Everyone looked down.
She instinctively touched her hand.
He had taken it while stopping her wrist earlier.
She had not noticed.
Her face hardened.
“Give it back.”
“No.”
Her eyes flashed.
“You don't get to humiliate me in front of these people.”
Alessandro looked around.
“You did that yourself.”
Gerald stepped forward.
“Careful.”
Alessandro turned.
Gerald’s smile was gone.
“My sister walks out of here with her dignity.”
Vivienne looked at him.
Then laughed.
“You're still speaking for me?”
Gerald stared.
She stepped away from him.
Not toward Alessandro.
May you like
Alone.
For the first time.
