Chapter 14
The four older capos who knew Bianca was alive stepped forward.
Not toward her.
Toward me.
Antonio spoke first.
“We failed you.”
I frowned.
“How?”
“We knew she survived.”
My chest tightened.
“You knew.”
“For years.”
Bianca closed her eyes.
I looked at her.
“You knew they knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Antonio answered:
“Thomas controlled every route to you.”
My father laughed.
“Listen to them excuse cowardice.”
Antonio looked at him.
“You threatened our children.”
Thomas shrugged.
“Then you behaved.”
That sentence killed whatever loyalty remained.
Another capo stepped forward.
“You told me my son would disappear if Bianca contacted Valentina.”
Thomas smiled.
“And did he?”
The man stared.
“No.”
“Then I kept my word.”
I almost couldn’t believe him.
He genuinely thought not hurting someone after threatening them proved honor.
Bianca whispered:
“This is why I stayed away.”
I looked at her.
“He would have used me?”
“You.”
“Ethan?”
“Eventually.”
Thomas smiled.
“Correct.”
No shame.
The truth had freed him from pretending.
He looked at me.
“You want honesty? Fine.”
He pointed at Bianca.
“She made me choose between this family and one woman.”
Then Ethan.
“She made you choose between leadership and one child.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“You made those choices.”
His face hardened.
“Sentiment destroys houses.”
“No.”
“You’ll learn.”
“I already did.”
“From whom?”
I looked at Bianca.
Then Ethan.
“From the people who survived you.”
Silence.
Thomas laughed.
“You think surviving me makes you strong?”
Ethan suddenly spoke.
“No.”
Everyone looked down.
My son clutched his towel.
“You’re mean.”
Simple.
Three years old.
No speech.
No strategy.
Thomas looked offended.
That almost made me laugh.
Ethan continued:
“You didn’t help me.”
My father stared.
“You wanted Mommy scared.”
Thomas said nothing.
Ethan looked at me.
“Can we go home?”
The question settled the room more completely than any capo could.
I nodded.
“Yes.”
Thomas snapped:
“You walk out now and everything fractures.”
I turned.
“No.”
I looked at the men around us.
“Everything fractured years ago.”
May you like
Then I looked at him.
“We’re just finally naming the break.”
