Chapter 5
Salvatore didn't deny it.
That frightened me more than denial would have.
He looked at Katherine.
Then at me.
“I gave Marcus a bottle.”
The room went dead quiet.
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
“Why?”
“He said it was a gift.”
Marcus laughed from behind the guards.
“There. Mystery solved.”
I didn't look at him.
“What bottle?”
Salvatore answered.
“A private reserve from Sicily.”
“From my cellar?”
“No.”
“Where did you get it?”
He paused.
That was the problem.
Salvatore Greco rarely paused.
“From a contact.”
“What contact?”
Katherine laughed.
“You see?”
I turned toward her.
“You're enjoying this too early.”
Her smile vanished.
Then I looked back at Salvatore.
“What was in it?”
“Wine.”
“Only wine?”
He stared at me.
“I thought so.”
Thought.
Not knew.
I hated that word.
Katherine stepped forward.
“Tell him the rest.”
Marcus snapped, “Mother.”
She ignored him.
“You want to know when we started planning your death?”
There it was.
No denial anymore.
I waited.
Katherine looked at my chair.
Then Clara's.
“After your daughter was born.”
Something cold moved through me.
“Why?”
“Because you changed.”
I almost laughed.
“You tried to kill me because I became a father?”
“You became weak.”
“No.”
Her voice sharpened.
“You stopped listening to the old families.”
I understood then.
For years, Katherine had pushed for harder retaliation.
More pressure.
More fear.
I had rejected half of it.
Not because I was becoming weak.
Because fear is expensive.
Eventually everyone who fears you starts waiting for your mistake.
Katherine mistook restraint for softness.
“You wanted Marcus in my place.”
“He understands what this family requires.”
Marcus looked almost proud.
I looked at him.
“You needed your mother to poison me.”
Pride disappeared.
Katherine continued.
“It wasn't supposed to happen like this.”
I turned.
“What wasn't?”
She looked at Salvatore.
He said nothing.
That was answer enough.
“You didn't create the plan.”
Silence.
“You joined one.”
Marcus looked at Katherine.
“Don't.”
I stepped closer.
“Who brought you the idea?”
Katherine's mouth tightened.
“Who told you I could be weakened slowly enough that no one would question it?”
Still nothing.
“Who gave Marcus access to my private wine?”
Her eyes moved.
Toward Salvatore.
He saw it.
“So did I.”
Salvatore's hand slipped inside his jacket.
Three bodyguards immediately drew.
He stopped.
Slowly raised both hands.
I stared at him.
Seventeen years.
My father's funeral.
My wedding.
Clara's birth.
Seventeen Christmases.
“What did you reach for?”
Salvatore removed his hand.
A phone.
He placed it on the table.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing hidden.
Which somehow made the betrayal worse.
“Roman.”
“No.”
I had heard that tone before.
Men use your name differently when they are about to explain why hurting you was reasonable.
“Did you know?”
He said nothing.
“Did you know what was in the bottle?”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
Katherine smiled.
Marcus looked relieved.
I felt neither.
Because betrayal from Katherine made sense.
She had always loved power more than peace.
Salvatore was different.
I had trusted him with my daughter's security.
My house.
My life.
I asked one question.
“Why?”
Salvatore looked toward Clara's empty chair.
Then back at me.
“Because Katherine wanted you dead.”
May you like
He paused.
“I only wanted you weak.”
