Chapter 11
Rocco did not run.
He closed his eyes.
That almost made it worse.
Adrian laughed.
“Perfect.”
Genevieve stared at the old capo.
“You sanctimonious old bastard.”
Rocco opened his eyes.
She stepped toward him.
“You stood there preaching about Salvatore while you were in Adrian’s pocket?”
Rocco looked at Domenico.
“No.”
Adrian laughed louder.
“Go on.”
He gestured.
“Tell them you were saving the family.”
Rocco’s jaw tightened.
Domenico raised one hand.
Silence.
“Rocco.”
The old man took a breath.
“Adrian approached me first.”
“When?”
“Seven weeks ago.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Rocco looked toward Lily.
Then away.
“Because he said your council was compromised.”
Domenico’s expression hardened.
“By who?”
“He wouldn't say.”
Adrian smirked.
Rocco continued.
“He showed me a recording.”
“What recording?”
Rocco’s eyes moved toward Genevieve.
Her face sharpened.
“Carlo.”
Domenico stopped.
Rocco explained.
An old audio cassette.
Carlo Ravelli’s voice.
Recorded shortly before his death.
On it, Carlo warned that someone inside the family had been keeping old Salvatore loyalists alive as a hidden faction.
Domenico stared.
“Who?”
“Carlo never named them.”
Adrian smiled.
“That made it useful.”
Rocco looked at him with disgust.
“You cut the recording.”
Adrian shrugged.
“Eventually.”
The original had been longer.
Adrian played only the part that implied Domenico’s council was compromised.
Rocco believed him enough to attend one meeting.
Then realized Genevieve was involved.
He stayed close because he wanted to know how far the plan went.
Domenico stared at him.
“You still didn't tell me.”
Rocco’s voice roughened.
“I thought if I came to you with suspicion and no names, you'd shut the whole thing down before I could identify them.”
Domenico did not answer.
Because ten years earlier, that was exactly what he would have done.
Rocco continued.
“I was wrong not to tell you.”
No excuse.
No arrogance.
That difference mattered.
Adrian scoffed.
“Listen to him.”
He looked toward the capos.
“Everyone becomes honorable when they get caught.”
Rocco turned.
“At least some of us become ashamed.”
Adrian’s face hardened.
Genevieve smiled bitterly.
“Don't waste shame on him.”
She looked at Adrian.
“He was born believing consequences were things other people carried.”
Adrian’s gaze snapped toward her.
“Careful, Mother.”
Genevieve laughed.
“No.”
Her voice rose.
“I'm done protecting you.”
Adrian smiled.
“You're done because you lost.”
“That too.”
The honesty surprised everyone.
Genevieve turned toward Domenico.
“I will give you every name.”
Adrian stared.
Domenico did not answer.
“Every man I approached.”
“Every house where we met.”
“Every promise.”
Adrian’s face hardened.
Genevieve looked back at him.
“You wanted me to carry the fall?”
Her smile became vicious.
“I'll make sure you feel the weight too.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“You think he forgives you because you're useful now?”
Genevieve lifted her chin.
“I don't need forgiveness.”
That sounded like her again.
Cold.
Proud.
Unrepentant.
“I need him to understand which enemy is still standing.”
Domenico’s voice cut through.
“You're both still my enemies.”
Genevieve looked toward him.
For the first time, her smile faltered.
Good.
Domenico continued.
“You don't purchase your way back by selling him.”
Her face hardened.
“I am not asking to come back.”
“Then speak because it's true.”
Genevieve stared.
Long silence.
Then she began naming names.
Five capos.
Two retired enforcers.
One household manager.
One bodyguard.
Matteo’s face changed.
“Who?”
Genevieve smiled coldly.
“Bruno.”
The same bodyguard who had stood beside Lily during several family receptions.
Domenico’s jaw tightened.
Genevieve continued.
“He was the one who made sure the child’s toy reached the council room even when she forgot it.”
Lily looked toward the doors.
Bruno was not there.
Matteo immediately reached for his radio.
No response.
Domenico’s eyes hardened.
“Find him.”
A guard ran.
Adrian laughed.
“You're late.”
Domenico looked at him.
Adrian’s smile widened.
“Bruno left twenty minutes ago.”
“How do you know?”
Adrian adjusted his cuff.
“Because unlike my mother, I don't wait until the room turns against me to move my pieces.”
A bodyguard rushed back in.
“Boss.”
Domenico turned.
“Bruno’s car is gone.”
A pause.
May you like
“So is the receiver that stores the camera copies.”
Adrian had just taken the one thing that could contain months of Domenico’s private council conversations out of the estate.
