Chapter 7
Helena walked to the window.
Outside, the estate lawn stretched toward the old garages.
She did not look cornered.
She looked relieved.
“For months I’ve listened to everyone whisper about Marzanos.”
“Routes.”
“Gunmen.”
“Revenge.”
She turned.
“Men love enemies outside the gate.”
Her eyes moved toward Angelo.
“It means they never have to look at the family.”
Dominic’s face tightened.
“Helena.”
She ignored him.
Angelo watched.
“You knew Silas was here.”
“Yes.”
Dominic turned sharply.
“What?”
For the first time, he sounded genuinely surprised.
Helena smiled at him.
“Oh, don't look betrayed.”
Her voice became cruel.
“You’ve been betraying people since your first promotion.”
Dominic stared.
“You told me he stayed outside Carbone territory.”
“I told you what kept you useful.”
Power shifted again.
Angelo saw it.
Dominic had believed he was Helena’s partner.
Maybe he was only another piece.
He stepped toward her.
“You used my meetings with Marzano.”
Helena laughed.
“You begged for those meetings.”
“You wanted his crews.”
“You wanted men to look at you and see something larger than Angelo’s cousin.”
Dominic’s hands closed.
She stepped closer.
“And still you needed me to arrange the room.”
His jaw flexed.
Angelo asked:
“What did you arrange?”
Helena finally looked at him.
“A correction.”
No one spoke.
“You were destroying the family after your father died.”
Her tone became harder.
“You took every insult personally.”
“You pushed into Marzano territory.”
“You promoted boys who worshipped you.”
“You mistook recklessness for strength.”
Angelo did not interrupt.
Some of it was true.
That made her words more dangerous.
Helena continued.
“I told Dominic you needed to be frightened.”
Dominic snapped:
“You said we would hit the escort.”
Angelo’s eyes moved toward him.
There.
Another crack.
Helena smiled.
“And you agreed.”
Dominic looked at Angelo.
Then away.
Angelo’s voice dropped.
“You knew about the ambush.”
Dominic lifted his chin.
Not afraid.
Defiant.
“I knew Marzano men would hit the rear car.”
Rocco’s face went white.
Two bodyguards had died there.
Dominic continued.
“You were supposed to see men fall.”
“To understand you weren't untouchable.”
Angelo’s gaze turned colder.
“And my car?”
Dominic’s breathing changed.
“They weren't supposed to hit it.”
Helena laughed softly.
Dominic turned.
“You changed the order.”
She looked at him.
“You were too soft.”
Silence.
Even Dominic stared.
Helena’s eyes returned to Angelo.
“I knew fear wouldn't change you.”
“So?”
“So I needed something permanent.”
Her gaze dropped toward the wheelchair.
No apology.
No shame.
Only certainty.
Dominic whispered:
“You told Silas to hit his car.”
Helena smiled.
“I told him not to kill Angelo.”
Angelo’s face became still.
Dominic’s confidence cracked for the first time.
May you like
Not because Angelo threatened him.
Because Helena had just revealed he had never controlled the ambush at all.
