Chapter 9
Thomas called Carlo a liar.
Too quickly.
I knew.
“Where is she?”
My father smiled.
“You still sound six.”
That hurt.
He enjoyed it.
“Where is my mother?”
“She left you.”
“No.”
“She escaped.”
“That isn’t leaving me.”
Thomas laughed.
“Same result.”
Ethan looked up at me.
I refused to let him see me break.
“Did you find her?”
Thomas said nothing.
Carlo answered.
“Months later.”
My chest tightened.
“Where?”
“Arizona.”
Thomas glared.
Carlo continued.
“She was using another name.”
“Did you bring her back?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Thomas changed the order.”
My father smiled faintly.
There it was.
“What order?”
Carlo looked away.
“Watch her.”
“For how long?”
“Years.”
I stared at Thomas.
“You monitored my mother.”
“She monitored us.”
“She was hiding.”
“She was dangerous.”
“To whom?”
“To everything I built.”
Again.
Power over person.
Always.
“Is she alive now?”
Carlo hesitated.
Thomas laughed.
“Ask better questions.”
I stepped closer.
“What does that mean?”
He leaned in.
“Bianca learned you took over.”
My breathing stopped.
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“She knows?”
“Yes.”
“Did you speak to her?”
“No.”
“Did you send someone?”
Thomas smiled.
“Of course.”
My stomach turned.
“Who?”
No answer.
Vanessa whispered:
“Marcus.”
Marcus turned.
“Shut up.”
Too late.
I looked at him.
“You met my mother.”
His face changed.
Vanessa looked almost pleased to hurt him.
“When?”
“Last year.”
I stared.
Marcus said:
“It wasn’t like that.”
“What was it like?”
“Thomas wanted a message delivered.”
“What message?”
Marcus looked at my father.
Thomas smiled.
“Tell her.”
Marcus swallowed.
“That Ethan existed.”
My hand tightened around my son’s.
“Why?”
No answer.
Then it came.
Bianca had disappeared for herself.
But a grandson?
A three-year-old child?
Thomas knew family could pull her back.
Just like Ethan pulled me.
The pattern became clear.
“You used Ethan to lure her too.”
Thomas’s smile faded.
Marcus whispered:
“She replied.”
My heart stopped.
“What did she say?”
He looked at me.
“She said if Thomas ever touched that child…”
Pause.
“…she would come home herself.”
Thomas looked toward the estate gates.
And suddenly I understood tonight’s wedding had another audience.
Not capos.
Not guests.
May you like
My mother.
Thomas expected Bianca to be watching.
