Chapter 13
I brought Victor back to the dining room.
Mother too.
Every senior capo remained.
Nobody ate.
The table was still set from the dinner Clara had collapsed trying to serve.
I left it that way.
Plates.
Wine.
Cold food.
A reminder.
Victor smiled when he entered.
“You look tired.”
I sat at the head of the table.
“I spoke to Clara.”
His smile remained.
“Poor thing.”
Mocking.
“Did talking exhaust her too?”
Several capos looked away.
Victor noticed.
He enjoyed making them uncomfortable.
“She says you told Samuel there'd only be one Carter giving orders tomorrow.”
His smile faded.
“She's confused.”
I looked at him.
“Of course.”
He relaxed slightly.
Then I continued.
“She must also be confused about Raymond getting the east crews.”
He stopped.
“Gavin getting the river warehouses.”
Nothing.
“And the black crescent pins.”
His jaw tightened.
Mother stared at him.
I looked at her.
“Clara also told me you brought Samuel here.”
She lifted her chin.
“I did.”
“At least one of you can admit something.”
Mother glared.
I continued.
“You tried to force Clara into the river oath.”
“I tried to secure Noah's future.”
“By holding him away from his mother.”
“She was irrational.”
“By denying her food.”
“She refused to cooperate.”
“By grabbing her wrist.”
“She pulled away.”
There.
Again.
Every injury was Clara's fault because Clara resisted.
I looked at the capos.
“This is what she believes.”
Mother stared.
“A wife obeys.”
Silence.
“A mother earns trust.”
Nothing.
“A woman in this house eats when the house is served.”
Marissa stood near the doorway.
Mother saw her.
Her expression sharpened.
“You.”
Marissa flinched.
Mother smiled cruelly.
“All this because a maid wanted to feel important.”
I stood.
“Leave her out of it.”
Mother ignored me.
“You're still just staff.”
Marissa looked at her.
For the first time, she smiled.
“Yes.”
Mother frowned.
Marissa continued.
“And I still did more to protect Clara and Noah than you did.”
The room went silent.
Mother's face twisted.
“You ungrateful little—”
I raised one hand.
She stopped.
Victor laughed.
“This family has become pathetic.”
I turned.
He leaned back.
“A maid lectures the matriarch.”
He pointed toward Clara's room.
“A half-conscious wife dictates command.”
Then at me.
“And the boss asks permission to go home.”
His contempt finally came clean.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
Victor stood.
“You're weak.”
No one moved.
“You became weak the day you married Clara.”
Mother said nothing.
Victor continued.
“You got worse when she became pregnant.”
His smile sharpened.
“And the baby finished you.”
I stared.
“You actually think caring makes me weak.”
“I know it does.”
“How?”
“Because I can make you move.”
There.
The heart of his plan.
“Take Clara.”
He snapped his fingers.
“You move.”
“Take Noah.”
Another snap.
“You move faster.”
He smiled.
“A predictable boss is a controllable boss.”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
That surprised him.
“I am predictable.”
His smile returned.
“If my wife needs me, I go.”
Wider.
“If my son cries, I come.”
Victor nodded like he had won.
“Exactly.”
I stood.
Then looked around the room.
“But you made one mistake.”
“What?”
“You thought the men in this room wanted a boss who wouldn't.”
Victor's smile faded.
I looked toward Leo.
He spoke first.
“My wife nearly died giving birth to our second son.”
Victor stared.
Leo continued.
“If I'd found out someone withheld her food…”
He didn't finish.
He didn't need to.
Raymond spoke next.
“My daughter calls, I answer.”
Then another capo.
And another.
Not everyone.
Enough.
Victor had built his faction around a lie.
That cruelty was masculinity.
That distance was power.
That a man proved leadership by abandoning the people closest to him.
He had mistaken silence for agreement.
Mother stared at the table.
Victor looked furious.
“You're all sentimental.”
Leo smiled coldly.
“No.”
Then looked toward the room where Clara rested.
“We just know the difference between a family and a hostage.”
Victor's face changed.
For the first time, he realized he had already lost the room.
Then the outer doors opened.
An older man entered with four guards.
Scar near his chin.
Samuel Carter.
The river branch.
Mother stood.
Victor went pale.
Samuel looked at me.
Then at Victor.
“I believe your cousin threatened to remove me after using my name.”
Victor stopped breathing.
May you like
Good.
One more betrayal had just walked through the door.
