Chapter 10
Victoria placed the engagement ring on the table.
No throwing.
No shouting.
Just metal touching wood.
She stared at it as though removing it changed what she had done.
It did not.
“What happens now?”
“You leave my household.”
Her face collapsed.
“And Noah?”
“You do not contact him unless he asks for you.”
“He is three.”
“Yes.”
“He can’t make that decision.”
“Then there is no reason to rush it.”
Silence.
She hated uncertainty.
Control always does.
“What about us?”
“There is no us.”
She closed her eyes.
“I made mistakes.”
“Yes.”
“I can change.”
“Maybe.”
Her eyes opened.
“But not for a wedding date.”
That landed.
Good.
I did not need her transformed quickly enough to preserve my plans.
Marcus’s consequence was different.
He sat across from me later.
Still wearing the Caruso family ring.
Still calm.
“What do you want?”
“Your command.”
His expression changed slightly.
“No independent crews. No council filtering. No authority over household security. No access to my private schedule.”
He laughed.
“You’re cutting off your right hand.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“I’m discovering I’ve been using someone else’s hand because mine was impatient.”
Silence.
That one belonged to me.
Marcus looked almost disappointed I accepted responsibility.
He wanted a fight.
Blame is easier when the other man refuses his portion.
I continued.
“You remain family.”
He frowned.
“That’s supposed to comfort me?”
“No.”
“Then why say it?”
“Because relationship and authority are different.”
Pause.
“You lose one.”
I held his gaze.
“The other depends on what you do next.”
No exile.
No dramatic execution.
That would let him become a martyr to old capos.
Instead, he would live without the system that made him important.
Marcus looked toward the ring on his hand.
“My father built this family beside yours.”
“And you can honor him without managing what I’m allowed to hear.”
His jaw tightened.
May you like
He had no answer.
Good.
