Chapter 7
Victor Bennett arrived at midnight.
Alive.
Older.
Lean.
Gray at the temples.
But alive.
He entered through the east service door with two men I recognized from childhood.
Ryan went pale.
Vivian actually stepped backward.
I almost laughed.
Margaret began crying.
“Victor.”
My uncle looked at her bruised face.
Then the children.
Then me.
“What happened here?”
I looked at Ryan.
“You tell him.”
Ryan recovered quickly.
“Claire came home emotional.”
Victor looked at the broken catering cart.
Then Vivian beneath the tilted pantry rack.
Then me.
“Emotional?”
Vivian stepped forward.
“She attacked us.”
Oliver whispered:
“Grandma hurt Grandma first.”
Victor looked at him.
Then Margaret.
His jaw hardened.
Ryan raised both hands.
“Everyone needs to calm down.”
Victor laughed.
“No.”
That was the first thing about him I remembered.
He never wasted words.
I looked at him.
“Did you contact Ryan?”
“No.”
Ryan’s face changed.
“Did you tell him the house could change hands?”
“No.”
“Did you ask for the old seal?”
Victor looked confused.
“What seal?”
Margaret exhaled.
Relief.
Ryan started moving toward the hallway.
My guards blocked him.
Victor noticed.
Then looked at me.
“Someone used my name.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To gather old capos.”
He stared at Ryan.
My husband smiled bitterly.
“You think these people still want you, Victor?”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“They want her.”
Ryan’s smile vanished.
Victor continued.
“I disappeared because Claire’s father ordered me out.”
That was new.
“Why?”
Victor looked at Margaret.
She knew.
Of course she did.
“My brother found out I wanted Ryan’s father removed.”
Ryan’s head snapped toward him.
“What?”
Victor stared.
“Your father was selling Bennett routes.”
Silence.
Vivian’s face changed.
There.
Another old secret.
Ryan whispered:
“You’re lying.”
Victor laughed.
“Ask your mother.”
Everyone looked at Vivian.
She smiled too quickly.
“My husband died loyal.”
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Ryan.
“He died before your mother could finish the same coup you’re trying now.”
The kitchen went silent.
May you like
Ryan stared at Vivian.
For the first time, he realized the plan he thought was his might have belonged to his mother long before he ever married me.
