Chapter 6
Vivienne showed no embarrassment.
She applauded once.
Slowly.
“How dramatic.”
Nico stared at her.
“You lied.”
She shrugged.
“I negotiated.”
“You said Alessandro approved.”
“I said Alessandro would understand.”
Gerald stepped toward her.
“Enough.”
Vivienne turned.
“Don't speak to me like staff.”
Gerald’s face hardened.
For a moment, brother and sister looked less united than they had all afternoon.
Alessandro saw it.
Nico did too.
Nico looked toward Alessandro.
“I came because I wanted back in.”
No excuses.
“I spent six years outside.”
His jaw tightened.
“I was willing to listen to anyone who said the door might open.”
Alessandro remained still.
“What did she ask for?”
Nico glanced at Vivienne.
She smiled.
“Tell him.”
Nico’s expression darkened.
“She wanted my men to stay outside the estate after the wedding.”
Alessandro’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“To make it look like the old Marzano faction was active again.”
Vivienne laughed.
“Look like?”
She lifted her chin.
“Your people follow you, Nico.”
“If they stand outside a gate, they are active.”
Nico stared at her.
“You said no one would be hurt.”
“No one had to be.”
Alessandro’s voice became quiet.
“What was supposed to happen?”
Vivienne turned toward him.
For the first time, she answered directly.
“Pressure.”
Gerald closed his eyes.
Vivienne continued.
“You have six capos who think you never choose anything above family.”
Her gaze moved toward the house.
Toward Lily.
“And four who think that makes you weak.”
Alessandro’s face hardened.
“You were going to use Lily.”
Vivienne smiled.
“Use?”
Her voice dripped contempt.
“Everything around a boss is used.”
“His money.”
“His name.”
“His marriage.”
“His children.”
Nora looked horrified.
Vivienne saw her.
“What?”
She snapped.
“You thought little princesses grow up untouched because Daddy wears a ring?”
Nora stepped forward.
Alessandro raised one hand.
Not to silence Nora.
To protect her from making Vivienne’s next move easier.
Vivienne continued.
“Lily was never going to be harmed.”
“How generous,” Alessandro said.
She ignored the sarcasm.
“She was going to spend one afternoon at the west villa.”
Nico’s head snapped toward her.
“You told me she would stay inside the estate.”
Vivienne’s eyes moved toward him.
“Plans evolve.”
Alessandro’s jaw tightened.
“Who was taking her?”
Vivienne smiled.
“Nora.”
Nora stared.
“No.”
Vivienne looked almost amused.
“Yes.”
“You were going to send Nora with Lily.”
“Of course.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“The child trusts her.”
Nora’s face went pale.
Gerald finally spoke.
“She wasn't supposed to know.”
Vivienne turned.
He realized what he had admitted.
Alessandro’s gaze moved between them.
“What wasn't Nora supposed to know?”
Silence.
Then Nico answered.
“That the west villa was never the final destination.”
Vivienne’s face hardened.
Gerald looked toward him.
Nico continued.
“They told me a second car would take Lily from there.”
Alessandro’s expression became lethal.
“Where?”
Nico’s eyes shifted toward Gerald.
“I was never told.”
Gerald smiled again.
“There.”
His arrogance returned.
“Finally something even exile-boy doesn't know.”
Alessandro looked at him.
Gerald spread his hands.
“You keep asking questions as though answers belong to you.”
His smile became vicious.
“They don't.”
Then Lily’s voice came from the garden doors.
“Daddy?”
Everyone turned.
She stood beside Clara.
Holding the same soda can.
And around the can’s silver tab was a tiny black thread nobody had noticed before.
Nico’s face changed.
He recognized it.
“That isn't a drink marker.”
Alessandro crouched.
“What is it?”
Nico stared at Vivienne.
“A route signal.”
May you like
Vivienne’s face finally went still.
The soda can Nora gave Lily had accidentally carried the signal meant to tell someone outside the estate which child was to be moved.
