Chapter 8
Dominic turned on Helena.
“You told me the front car was an accident.”
She adjusted one pearl bracelet.
“You believed me because believing me protected your pride.”
His breathing grew heavier.
“You put him in that chair.”
Helena looked toward Angelo.
“No.”
Her voice stayed calm.
“I ordered a shot meant to stop a car.”
A pause.
“Silas chose how.”
Angelo’s eyes hardened.
Helena lifted one shoulder.
“I wanted you alive.”
Dominic laughed bitterly.
“Generous.”
She turned toward him.
“Without him alive, you had no legitimacy.”
The room went quiet.
Dominic stared.
There it was.
The deeper strategy.
Helena needed Angelo injured.
Not dead.
A living boss who could be displayed as incapable gave Dominic authority without forcing the capos to accept a full succession.
Dominic slowly understood.
“You never planned to make me boss.”
Helena smiled.
“Not yet.”
His face hardened.
“You made me acting capo.”
“I made you useful.”
The same insult again.
This time it landed differently.
Dominic stepped closer.
“You think you control me?”
Helena’s eyes sharpened.
“I have since you were ten.”
Everyone understood then.
Helena was Dominic’s mother.
And the family relationship had been a chain long before it became a conspiracy.
Dominic’s arrogance returned out of anger.
“You need me.”
“No.”
Helena looked at his capo pin.
“I needed that.”
His face darkened.
She looked toward Angelo.
“Once enough capos accepted Dominic’s orders…”
Her eyes moved toward the chair.
“…we would remove the symbol.”
Angelo’s expression did not change.
“What does that mean?”
Helena smiled.
“You.”
Emma inhaled sharply.
Dominic stared at his mother.
“You said he would retire.”
“Same destination.”
Different route.
Dominic stepped back.
For the first time, he looked at Angelo not as an enemy.
As another person Helena had manipulated.
That did not make them allies.
It made the room more dangerous.
Then Noah spoke.
Small voice.
“Gray-face man was mad at her.”
Everyone turned.
Helena’s eyes narrowed.
Angelo looked at Noah.
“When?”
“Under bed.”
Emma went pale.
Noah continued.
“He said she lied.”
Helena’s expression hardened.
“What else?”
Noah looked at her.
Then hid behind Emma.
She lowered herself.
“It’s okay.”
He whispered into her ear.
Emma’s face changed.
Angelo saw it.
“What did he say?”
Emma looked toward Helena.
“He said…”
Her breath caught.
“…Angelo wasn't the one who was supposed to lose his legs.”
Silence.
Helena stopped moving.
Dominic’s eyes snapped toward her.
May you like
Angelo’s hand tightened on the wheelchair rim.
Someone else had been the intended victim.
