Chapter 12
Eleanor called Moretti herself.
No intermediaries.
No excuses.
Luca Moretti answered on the third ring.
His voice was cold.
“You have one minute.”
Eleanor looked directly at Vincent while speaking.
“The warehouse attack was staged.”
Vincent laughed.
Luca heard.
“Who is that?”
“Vincent Bellini.”
Silence.
Then:
“Interesting.”
Vincent's smile faded.
Eleanor continued.
“Men wearing my pins attacked your warehouse using weapons taken from an old Bellini chest.”
“Convenient story.”
“Yes.”
“Why should I believe it?”
“You shouldn’t.”
Vincent smirked.
Eleanor continued.
“Turn your convoy around anyway.”
Luca laughed.
“Why?”
“Because if you attack tonight, the man who staged this gets exactly what he wants.”
Silence.
That landed.
Eleanor continued.
“You can hate me tomorrow.”
“Tonight, don’t be predictable.”
Luca said nothing for several seconds.
Then:
“Twenty minutes.”
The line ended.
Adrian looked at her.
“What does that mean?”
“It means we have twenty minutes before Moretti decides whether pride matters more than being manipulated.”
Vincent sneered.
“He’ll come.”
Eleanor looked at him.
“You hope.”
“I know men.”
“No.”
She glanced toward Serena and Grant.
“You know how to flatter the worst parts of them.”
Vincent’s face hardened.
Eleanor turned to Thomas.
“Find every fake Bellini man.”
“We have nine.”
“Twelve jackets.”
“Yes.”
“Three missing.”
Vincent smiled.
There it was.
Eleanor saw.
“Where?”
No answer.
Thomas's radio crackled again.
One fake Bellini man had been seen near the south road.
Another near Moretti’s route.
Not retreating.
Preparing another provocation.
If they fired at the convoy while dressed Bellini—
war became unavoidable.
Eleanor looked at Adrian.
“Come.”
Serena grabbed his arm.
“No.”
He pulled away.
She tightened her grip.
“You are not running after her again.”
Adrian stared at her hand.
Then her face.
Serena’s voice dropped.
“Choose.”
He laughed quietly.
“You already made that easy.”
He walked away.
Serena’s face twisted.
“Coward!”
Adrian stopped.
She continued.
“Go hide behind Mommy.”
No response.
“Maybe she’ll wipe your mouth too.”
Adrian turned.
Not angry.
Clear.
“You keep insulting me whenever you lose control.”
Serena went still.
He continued.
“I used to think that meant I needed to prove something.”
“Now?”
“It means you’re scared.”
That hurt.
Serena looked toward Eleanor.
Hatred.
Not because Eleanor had stolen Adrian.
Because Eleanor had taught him to hear the manipulation.
Grant stepped beside his sister.
“You’re better without him.”
Serena snapped:
“Shut up.”
Grant stared.
She turned on him too.
“You promised this would work.”
Vincent heard.
“Children.”
Again.
Serena looked at him.
“No.”
She walked toward Vincent.
“You promised Adrian got the chair.”
“He could have.”
“For how long?”
Vincent said nothing.
Serena laughed bitterly.
“There it is.”
Then louder:
“You needed him just long enough to make Eleanor step aside.”
Vincent’s expression sharpened.
“Careful.”
Serena smiled.
“Or what?”
His face changed.
She had borrowed his own cruelty now.
“Will you starve me?”
“Lock me in a cellar?”
“Throw me through flowers?”
Grant grabbed her arm.
“Enough.”
She tore free.
“No.”
Then pointed toward Vincent.
“He used us.”
Eleanor stopped at the edge of the lawn.
Turned back.
“Yes.”
Serena looked at her.
Eleanor continued.
“You still chose what you did.”
Serena’s face hardened.
No absolution.
Being manipulated did not erase cruelty.
Eleanor walked away with Adrian and Thomas.
Behind them, Serena shouted:
“You think she forgives you?”
Adrian stopped.
Eleanor did not.
Serena smiled viciously.
“She never will.”
Adrian looked at his mother’s back.
Then said:
May you like
“She doesn’t have to.”
And followed her anyway.
