Chapter 9
Dominic stared at Helena.
“Who?”
She said nothing.
His voice sharpened.
“Who was supposed to be in that car?”
Helena looked toward the window.
Dominic stepped closer.
“My car?”
Still nothing.
His face changed.
Angelo understood before he did.
Helena had expected Dominic to take the lead vehicle.
Angelo normally rode second.
The route change on the morning of the ambush put Angelo in front.
Helena’s plan had shifted.
Or failed.
Dominic’s breathing became rough.
“You were going to cripple me.”
Helena finally looked at him.
“You were becoming reckless.”
He laughed once.
Disbelief.
“Me?”
“You met Marzanos without permission.”
“You promised territory.”
“You were collecting men.”
Dominic stared.
Everything he had accused Angelo of doing—
Helena believed about him too.
“You used me to control him.”
“Yes.”
“And planned to use him to control me.”
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
That was what finally made Dominic look afraid.
Not the truth.
How little guilt his mother carried.
He paced once.
Then turned.
“You miserable—”
Helena’s face hardened.
“Finish that sentence.”
Dominic stopped.
Even now.
Forty-one years old.
Acting capo.
He still reacted to his mother’s voice.
Angelo saw it.
Helena did too.
She smiled.
“There.”
“That's why you were never ready.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“You think the chair belongs to him?”
“No.”
Her eyes moved to Angelo.
“I think neither of you deserves it.”
Silence.
The larger plan emerged.
Helena wanted the senior capos to rule collectively.
No single young boss.
No ambitious cousin.
No unpredictable heir.
A return to the structure she believed existed before Angelo’s father centralized everything.
Her reason was not greed alone.
It was control disguised as stability.
She had watched men she loved die for bosses’ pride.
She decided no one man should ever hold enough power to do it again.
Then she used fear, violence, sedation, and betrayal to build that future.
Angelo’s voice became quiet.
“You wanted to prevent tyranny by becoming one.”
Helena’s smile vanished.
Emma looked at him.
Dominic laughed bitterly.
“That’s good.”
He looked toward Helena.
“You finally sound like her son.”
The insult hung there.
Helena’s eyes narrowed.
Then Rocco entered hurriedly.
“Boss.”
Angelo looked over.
“Silas Marzano is at the east gate.”
Dominic’s face hardened.
Helena did not move.
Rocco continued.
“He says he wants to speak to Angelo.”
A pause.
“Alone.”
Dominic laughed.
“Absolutely not.”
Angelo looked at him.
Dominic realized he had given an order without authority.
Again.
Angelo’s mouth barely moved.
“Interesting.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
Angelo turned toward Rocco.
“Bring him.”
Helena stepped forward.
“No.”
Angelo looked at her.
For the first time, she sounded afraid.
Not much.
Enough.
“Why?”
Helena’s eyes hardened.
“Because Silas knows nothing worth hearing.”
A voice came from the hallway.
“I know who paid me twice.”
Silas Marzano entered before anyone invited him.
A white scar ran from his temple to his jaw.
His eyes settled on Helena.
“And I know which Castellano begged me to make sure Angelo survived.”
Dominic went completely still.
May you like
Silas smiled.
“It wasn't Helena.”
