Chapter 6
Adrian stared at his mother.
Genevieve refused to look away.
Her chin remained high.
Her pride had survived the slip.
Barely.
“You were there.”
His voice came low.
Genevieve’s eyes sharpened.
“I was his wife.”
“That wasn't the question.”
Domenico watched.
Adrian sounded like him now.
That irritated Genevieve more than the accusation.
She turned on Rocco.
“You think one word proves something?”
Rocco said nothing.
Genevieve laughed.
“Pathetic.”
She looked around at the younger capos.
“This is what age does.”
“Men forget whole decades, then remember one dramatic posture.”
Adrian’s voice cut through.
“Were you there?”
Genevieve looked at him.
A long pause.
“Yes.”
Adrian’s face changed.
Nothing dramatic.
A tiny loss of certainty.
Genevieve stepped closer to him.
“Your father made one mistake.”
Rocco scoffed.
Genevieve whipped toward him.
“Keep laughing.”
Her voice became venomous.
“You spent your entire life behind stronger men and now you think surviving them makes you wise.”
Rocco’s jaw tightened.
Genevieve turned back to Adrian.
“Salvatore wanted leverage.”
“He met the Ventrescas because Carlo was already pushing him out.”
Rocco shook his head.
“No.”
She ignored him.
“Your father fought for what should have been his.”
Adrian’s nostrils flared.
Domenico spoke.
“He gave enemies our guard positions.”
Genevieve looked at him.
“Your father had already stolen his future.”
“So men should die for it?”
Genevieve smiled coldly.
“Don't pretend your hands are clean because your father’s were dirtier first.”
Domenico did not react.
She hated that.
So she looked toward Lily.
The child was sitting on the edge of a chair now, dinosaur in her lap.
Genevieve’s eyes sharpened.
“Maybe one day she'll understand.”
Domenico’s gaze turned dangerous.
Genevieve continued anyway.
“You'll give her everything.”
“Everyone will bow.”
“She'll think she earned it because she has your name.”
Lily looked down.
Genevieve smiled.
“And then someone will remind her she was only born close to the right chair.”
Domenico stepped forward.
Adrian lifted one hand.
Not to protect his mother.
To stop Domenico from giving her the confrontation she wanted.
Interesting.
Domenico saw it.
Adrian said:
“Let her talk.”
Genevieve looked at him.
He stared back.
“I'm finally learning what she sounds like when she can't control the story.”
Her face hardened.
“Careful.”
Adrian laughed.
“Or what?”
The exact challenge Rocco had given him.
Power reversed again.
Genevieve’s eyes became cold.
“I made you.”
Adrian’s smile vanished.
There it was.
Her true belief.
She continued.
“You think men called you capo because they saw greatness?”
A small laugh.
“They saw my name behind you.”
Adrian’s face tightened.
Genevieve leaned closer.
“You were Salvatore’s orphaned boy with a temper.”
“I turned you into someone people stood for.”
Adrian’s mouth opened.
She cut him off.
“So don't stand there pretending one dead man’s confession changes what you owe me.”
Several capos looked away.
The humiliation was intentional.
Public.
Genevieve wanted her son back beneath her hand.
Instead, something in Adrian settled.
Colder.
He adjusted his cuff.
Then smiled.
“You're right.”
Genevieve’s expression eased.
A mistake.
Adrian continued.
“I owe you everything.”
He looked toward Domenico.
“That’s why I learned never to trust the person who says it most.”
Genevieve’s face changed.
Domenico noticed.
Adrian knew more.
The camera proved it.
Domenico lifted the tablet.
“You changed memory cards.”
Adrian’s eyes moved toward him.
“Yes.”
Genevieve turned.
“Why?”
Adrian smiled at her.
“Because you weren't the only person in this house who deserved watching.”
Silence.
Genevieve stared.
“You recorded me.”
“I recorded everyone.”
Her breathing changed.
Adrian looked almost pleased.
“You taught me that family is safest when you know what they say after the door closes.”
Genevieve’s face tightened.
Rocco muttered:
“Salvatore taught her better than we realized.”
Adrian ignored him.
Domenico looked at the tablet.
“Where are the other cards?”
Adrian smiled.
“Now we're asking the right question.”
Domenico held his gaze.
Adrian lifted his chin.
“You want them?”
“Yes.”
“Then give me my ring.”
Domenico looked at Carlo’s black signet in his palm.
Adrian’s arrogance returned fully.
“Go on.”
His smile widened.
“Let's see whether the great Domenico Ravelli can trade one dead man’s jewelry for the truth.”
Domenico did not answer.
Then Lily whispered from behind him:
“Daddy.”
He turned.
She was reaching into the dinosaur’s torn seam.
Her fingers found something beneath the stuffing.
A second memory card.
Adrian’s smile disappeared.
May you like
Lily held it up.
“You mean this?”
