Chapter 3
Angelo stared at his aunt.
Helena stared back.
Not ashamed.
Proud.
“You were impossible after the ambush.”
Her voice stayed smooth.
“You woke up demanding guns, names, cars, retaliation.”
She adjusted one bracelet.
“You couldn't even stand, yet you wanted six men dragged here before breakfast.”
Angelo’s eyes hardened.
“So you drugged me.”
“I calmed you.”
Dominic laughed.
“See?”
He looked around at the capos.
“He hears one ugly word and turns everything into betrayal.”
Emma’s fingers curled against Noah’s sweater.
Angelo noticed.
Helena did too.
“Oh, stop looking wounded.”
She spoke directly to Emma now.
“You carried the tray.”
“You knew he was taking something.”
Emma’s face changed.
“I thought it was medicine.”
“It was.”
Helena’s eyes narrowed.
“Until you started snooping.”
Dominic stepped toward Emma.
“You remember that part?”
His voice became vicious.
“You remember opening cupboards you weren't paid to open?”
Noah pressed against her leg.
Emma’s breathing shook.
“I was looking for towels.”
Dominic smiled.
“And somehow found your way into a locked cabinet.”
“I saw you put the vial there.”
His expression hardened.
“Then you should have remembered how servants survive in houses like this.”
Emma lifted her eyes.
For the first time, she did not look away.
“By pretending men like you are stronger than they are?”
Silence.
Dominic’s face changed.
Angelo saw it.
So did every man in the room.
Emma seemed shocked by her own words.
Dominic stepped forward.
Angelo’s hand closed around his wrist before he reached her.
The seated grip was brutal.
Dominic looked down.
Angelo’s voice was quiet.
“She speaks.”
“You listen.”
Dominic stared.
Then smiled.
“You think one punch gave you the chair back?”
Angelo released him.
“No.”
His gaze moved toward Dominic sitting in his old council seat.
“You sitting in it did.”
Dominic’s smile weakened.
Angelo looked around the room.
“How many meetings?”
Nobody answered.
Rocco finally spoke.
“Nine.”
Angelo’s jaw tightened.
“Without me.”
“Yes.”
Dominic laughed.
“You were drooling into pillows for half of them.”
Emma flinched.
Helena smiled.
“He’s right.”
She looked at Angelo.
“Do you have any idea how exhausting it became?”
“Every decision delayed because somebody had to carry it upstairs and ask whether you were awake enough to understand.”
Her voice turned cruel.
“The family needed a boss.”
Her eyes dropped toward the wheelchair.
“Not a patient with a ring.”
Several men shifted.
Angelo’s fingers tightened.
Then relaxed.
Helena watched.
“You hate hearing it.”
She stepped closer.
“Good.”
“Maybe humiliation will succeed where rehabilitation hasn't.”
Noah looked up at Angelo.
Then quietly placed one small hand over Angelo’s.
Helena saw it.
Her lips curled.
“And there it is.”
“Another stray feeling sorry for you.”
Emma’s eyes flashed.
Angelo’s voice became colder.
“Enough.”
Helena smiled.
“No.”
The word came easily.
“You've had months of everyone whispering around you.”
“I’m done whispering.”
She pointed toward Dominic.
“He kept the family running.”
“He kept men paid.”
“He kept rivals outside the gate.”
Her eyes returned to Angelo.
“You kept asking when your legs would move again.”
Angelo did not blink.
Then Emma whispered:
“That’s not what the vial was for.”
Everyone turned.
Helena’s face hardened.
Dominic went still.
Angelo looked at Emma.
“What?”
She swallowed.
“The night Dominic hit me…”
Noah immediately covered his head.
That movement told the room what kind of night it had been.
Emma's voice shook.
“He said Helena didn't care if you were calm.”
A pause.
“He said she needed you weak enough to miss the council.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
Helena slowly looked at him.
Emma continued.
“And he said once the capos stopped coming upstairs…”
Her eyes moved toward Dominic.
“…you wouldn't need another ambush.”
The room went dead silent.
May you like
Angelo’s hand stopped around the blue vial.
The first ambush had just entered the room.
