Chapter 7
Genevieve laughed first.
Not because anything was funny.
Because Adrian’s face had finally become worth watching.
“You missed one.”
Her tone was vicious.
Adrian stared at Lily’s fingers.
The tiny card rested between them.
His expression hardened.
“Give it here.”
Domenico turned.
Adrian took one step.
Every bodyguard in the room moved at once.
Adrian stopped.
Then smiled.
“Relax.”
He looked at Lily.
“I only want what belongs to me.”
Lily hugged the dinosaur against her chest.
Domenico’s voice became low.
“Nothing hidden inside my daughter’s toy belongs to you.”
Adrian’s eyes moved toward him.
“That toy has carried more Ravelli intelligence than half your men.”
Genevieve added:
“And apparently more sense.”
She looked at Lily.
“Though that isn't saying much.”
Domenico inserted the second card.
The first clip showed darkness.
Voices.
Genevieve.
Adrian.
A third man.
Unknown.
Genevieve spoke first.
“Domenico will not surrender the chair because we ask.”
The stranger answered:
“He doesn't need to surrender it.”
Adrian:
“He needs to lose the men around it.”
Domenico glanced toward the capos.
Several stiffened.
The stranger continued.
“What does the girl change?”
Genevieve laughed on the recording.
“Everything.”
“She is the softest thing in his life.”
Adrian:
“She is also the easiest thing to move through his house.”
Lily’s small face changed.
Domenico felt her hand find his.
Genevieve in the room remained defiant.
She looked directly at Lily.
“Oh, stop looking wounded.”
Her voice dripped with scorn.
“You carried a toy from room to room.”
“No one asked you to fight a war.”
Lily’s eyes filled.
Genevieve continued.
“Children do chores every day.”
Domenico turned.
The room chilled.
Genevieve lifted her chin.
“You want me to pretend she was tortured because she carried a dinosaur?”
Domenico’s voice came quiet.
“You threatened to throw it away.”
“So?”
“She trusted you.”
Genevieve smiled.
“That's her mistake.”
The words landed.
Even Adrian looked at his mother.
Domenico stopped the video.
For a few seconds nobody spoke.
Then he resumed.
The stranger said:
“If Domenico discovers the camera?”
Adrian laughed.
“He won't.”
Genevieve:
“He sees Lily and stops seeing threats.”
The stranger:
“And if the child talks?”
Genevieve:
“She already knows adults get angry when she asks too much.”
Domenico froze.
Lily looked down.
The slap tonight had not been the first effort to silence her.
Maybe not even the first punishment.
Domenico crouched beside her.
“Did she scare you before?”
Lily’s lower lip trembled.
Genevieve rolled her eyes.
“Don't start another performance.”
Domenico ignored her.
Lily whispered:
“She said Daddy gets tired of noisy girls.”
His face changed.
Genevieve said:
“For heaven’s sake.”
Lily continued.
“She said if I ask too much, you send me away.”
Silence.
Domenico looked at his aunt.
For the first time, several capos looked openly disgusted.
Genevieve saw it.
And became angrier.
“Oh, spare me your morality.”
She pointed at them.
“Half of you have frightened grown men for a living.”
Then at Lily.
“But because she has ribbons in her hair, suddenly everybody discovers a conscience?”
Domenico stood.
“No.”
His voice was soft.
“Because she is three.”
Genevieve smiled coldly.
“And because she is yours.”
Domenico did not deny it.
Then the unknown man on the recording spoke again.
“When does Lucian come in?”
The room changed.
Adrian’s face went still.
Genevieve turned toward him.
“What?”
She had not expected the name either.
Domenico noticed instantly.
Lucian Vale.
Boss of a smaller North Shore crew.
Not family.
Not friend.
A man kept at careful distance for years because ambition followed him everywhere.
Genevieve looked at Adrian.
“You said that recording was from before—”
She stopped.
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
Too late.
Domenico paused the clip.
“You didn't know Lucian was involved.”
Genevieve glared at her son.
Adrian recovered.
“It was exploratory.”
Genevieve’s voice dropped.
“You brought Vale into this?”
Adrian smiled.
“Now you're offended by betrayal?”
Her face hardened.
“You stupid boy.”
Adrian laughed.
“There she is.”
Domenico resumed the clip.
Lucian Vale’s voice became clear.
“When Genevieve moves against Domenico, what do you want from me?”
Adrian answered.
“Patience.”
“And after?”
A pause.
Then Adrian:
“After, I decide which Ravelli still has value.”
Genevieve stopped breathing.
May you like
Her son had not brought Lucian in to help her plan.
He had brought him in to survive it.
