Chapter 6
That distinction mattered to Salvatore.
It did not matter to me.
“You poisoned me.”
“I controlled the amount.”
Katherine laughed.
“As if that makes you loyal.”
Salvatore turned on her.
“You doubled it tonight.”
Marcus looked at his mother.
“What?”
Now we had it.
The fracture.
Katherine's face hardened.
“He was taking too long.”
Marcus stepped toward her.
“You said Roman would collapse after New Year's.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Without telling me?”
“You weren't strong enough to do what needed to be done.”
For the first time, Marcus looked less like a conspirator and more like a son discovering his mother had used him.
I didn't feel sorry for him.
He had still helped.
But the shape of the plan was changing.
I looked at Salvatore.
“You wanted me weak. Why?”
“So the capos would begin looking elsewhere.”
“At Marcus?”
“No.”
Katherine's head snapped toward him.
Marcus stared.
Salvatore continued.
“Marcus was temporary.”
That hit harder than any punch in the dining gallery.
Katherine whispered, “You lying bastard.”
“No.”
Salvatore looked at me.
“I knew the families would never accept him for long.”
Marcus moved.
Two bodyguards stopped him.
“Then who?”
Salvatore remained silent.
I smiled without humor.
“There it is.”
Another layer.
Katherine had thought she was replacing me with her son.
Marcus had thought he was becoming boss.
Salvatore had been using both.
“Who were you preparing the chair for?”
He didn't answer.
I looked toward my bodyguards.
“Search his office.”
Salvatore finally showed fear.
Small.
But real.
“No.”
I turned back.
“Why?”
“Because this isn't only inside the house.”
That was the wrong thing to say.
Everyone heard it.
Katherine did too.
Her expression changed.
“You told me there was no outside crew.”
Salvatore looked at her.
“I told you what you needed to hear.”
Marcus swore.
I almost admired the symmetry.
Three people.
Three different versions of the same conspiracy.
All convinced they were using the others.
I leaned against the table.
“Who?”
Salvatore stayed quiet.
Then one of the security radios cracked.
Static.
A voice.
“Boss.”
I looked toward the guard.
“Go.”
“Movement at the lower west entrance.”
Salvatore closed his eyes.
Katherine whispered, “No.”
Marcus looked at his mother.
“What?”
She stepped backward.
“They weren't supposed to come tonight.”
Salvatore looked at the clock.
11:18 p.m.
I stared at him.
“Who wasn't?”
He didn't answer.
Then the radio came alive again.
“Three vehicles beyond the service gate.”
Pause.
“No plates.”
I looked at Katherine.
She was frightened now.
Not for me.
For herself.
May you like
That told me everything I needed.
Whatever Salvatore had invited into my house was no longer under Katherine's control.
