“We know, Nonna, but let’s go anyway,” Gigi takes her arm. “We can get a donut.”
“I like the ones with the sprinkles,” Nonna grumbles. She leans over and presses the rosary into my hand as Gigi kisses my cheek.
They leave reluctantly.
Taking a deep breath I stare at the faces of the two people I trust most.
It’s bad news.
I know it’s bad news.
“Alright, spit it out,” I croak.
Salvatore’s shoulders slump as he pulls a chair next to me and sits down. He leans forward, elbows on his thighs, and buries his face in his hands. A heavy sigh escapes him, like the weight of the world is pressing down on him.
“I hate to even discuss such matters with the state you’re in.” He rights himself. “But we don’t have a choice. Someone tried to kill you at your party.”
“No shit. That’s obvious.” My response is filled with sarcasm.
“The thing is it has to be someone in your circle because this was planned too well. They knew the layout of the house and used a silencer so no one would hear the sounds. And they fired so it only hit you and no one else. Very tactical, almost like the work of a sniper.”
“But Mama said they missed two shots,” I wheeze.
“True, but even the missed shots were perfection. They hit the wall behind you.
“Do we know who did it?” A sick feeling churns in my gut.
Bruno slams his fist into the wall. “No we don’t. The stupid fuck was very smart and knew about the location of the cameras. After reviewing the security footage there is a three minute window where everything goes black. It’s enough time for the shots to be fired without detection. And the bastard positioned himself in a blind spot where no cameras could detect the movement. It was definitely an inside job.”
Cold washes over me. “Are you sure?”
“I swear, Farfalla. It has to be someone close to us. Everyone in that room had an invite, they were on the list, and got checked in at the door. All the other entrances were locked and guarded. Our assassin knew how to get in and out without being seen and we haven’t found a gun either. It has to be someone at the party who did this to you.”
I flinch at his word choice.
Assassin.
As the head of this family, I’m always the one calling the hits and I always succeed.
It’s normal for people to target me but never in my wildest dreams did I ever think someone would come so close and almost succeed in dethroning me.
Not to mention it being someone in my syndicate.
“Elio,” I blurt out. “I didn’t invite him, he wasn’t on the list. Gigi tells me she had eyes on him but I know she’s infatuated.”
Bruno shakes his head. “I wish it was that easy, Farfalla. You may not have invited him but your mom put him on the list. He was by Madeline’s side the entire time you were doing your toast. Multiple people saw him.”
“Fuck,” I mutter. It would have been easier to blame Elio than face the fact that someone I trusted wanted me dead.
“Do any of the guests know what happened to me?” I ask.
Bruno walks to the window and looks out at the city. “There are rumors but we haven’t told anyone anything. You concealed the wound well with that dress. Many believe you were poisoned, no one suspects a shooting.” He bangs his fist on the sill. “For the first time in my life, I’m stumped. Everything was so well thought out, everything was executed perfectly, leaving no trace and no clue. It’s like the attacker was inside our heads.”
“Bruno is leaving out the part where we are going to make a statement saying that you had an allergic reaction and had to go to the hospital.” Salvatore rubs his temples.
“But I’m not allergic to anything,” I protest.
“Well tonight you are,” Salvatore replies. “We don’t want the other families to know there is a traitor in our circle.”
