Chapter 12
Bianca stood so quickly her chair struck the floor.
“Shut up.”
Adrian looked at her.
A humorless smile touched his mouth.
“Still giving orders?”
Lorenzo remained seated.
“Sit down, Bianca.”
She looked at her brother.
His tone left no room.
Slowly, she sat.
Adrian began naming people.
A union organizer who disappeared from Carbone projects after challenging Bianca’s control.
A restaurant owner who sold unexpectedly after refusing her terms.
A capo transferred to Florida after questioning unexplained payments.
Not murders.
Not according to Adrian.
Pressure.
Threats.
Forced exits.
Punishments carried out using Lorenzo’s reputation.
Bianca stared at him.
“You did those things too.”
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
“But you chose the targets.”
Lorenzo’s eyes stayed on his sister.
She looked older now.
Not weaker.
Exposed.
Bianca finally spoke.
“Father taught us that losing control was how families died.”
Lorenzo’s jaw tightened.
“Father taught fear.”
“And you used it.”
The sentence landed.
Bianca continued.
“You just preferred not to watch.”
Anthony lowered his eyes.
Lorenzo felt the truth in it.
For years, he demanded results and rarely asked exactly how loyalty was maintained.
Bianca filled that space.
Adrian enforced it.
Elena became the first person close enough to make Lorenzo look directly at the machinery.
That was why Bianca hated her.
Not because Elena was weak.
Because Elena made Lorenzo curious.
Lorenzo slowly removed his signet ring.
He placed it on the table.
Bianca stared.
He did not explain.
He looked at Adrian.
“You will give independent counsel every name.”
Adrian laughed.
“You think I’m doing that for free?”
Lorenzo’s eyes remained still.
“No.”
A pause.
“You’re doing it because Bianca already knows you sabotaged Elena’s car.”
Adrian’s smile faded.
Bianca understood immediately.
Power shifted again.
If Adrian refused to cooperate, Bianca could bury him.
If Bianca attacked Adrian, he could expose her network.
They had protected each other for years.
Now each was the other’s most dangerous witness.
Then Anthony received a call.
He listened.
His face changed.
After hanging up, he looked at Lorenzo.
“Mia’s former therapist found something in storage.”
Lorenzo’s chest tightened.
“What?”
May you like
“A sealed envelope Elena left for Mia.”
The date written across the front was the morning she died.
