Madeline places a hand on her forehead. “Let me think…yes…there were two. One was the great-uncle who survived the attack. The other was an aunt who couldn’t attend the ceremony due to illness. The great-uncle died two years ago but the aunt is still alive. She lives just over the state line about an hour away. Pierre!” she shouts to the butler. “Get me the address for Rosa Marconi.”
“Right away, Ma’am,” he replies.
“Did you know about Francesca Marconi and my father?” I know the question is random but I have to ask.
She pauses for a moment. “When I got into business with your grandfather, your father and Salvatore were teens. I got rather close with all of them after attending all of the family functions and dinners. I did see your father hiding outside with Francesca a few times, but I thought nothing of it. I remember Salvatore mentioning once or twice how Francesca was so beautiful, and it was a shame her and your father could never be together due to the family feud.”
“Here you go Ma’am.” Pierre the butler walks in with a piece of paper in his gloved hand. He gives it to Madeline.
“Thank you,” she passes it to me. “There is the information you need. I hope you know I would never do anything to harm your family. You’ve all been good to me. Now please leave Elio alone.”
I shove the paper into my pocket and stand. “Thank you. After what Elio has done, I think it’s best that the Capuano family sever all ties with you. I will make sure you receive the money you’re owed, but after today our partnership is no more.”
A chill settles over the sun-drenched solarium as Madeline takes in my words. She stands and smoothes the front of her floral silk dress with an elegant sweep of her hands.
“I’ve welcomed you into my home, Cipriani, and I’ve broken bread with your family for decades. Now you stand before me and speak to me as if I’m the enemy.” She takes a step forward, her heels click against the marble. “I will not tolerate being accused of poisonings and murders simply because I dealt with a rival family a long time ago.”
“My decision is final,” I reply.
“Well then, I hope this decision doesn’t end badly for you Cipriani,” Madeline sneers.
“Don’t try to act tough, Madeline. We don’t need your partnership, we never did. You need us more than we’ll ever need you and you know it.”
Rage spreads across Madeline’s face. “You’ll pay for what you did to my grandson, Cipriani Capuano.”
“You will pay dearly if you ever threaten me again.” I take a step to the elderly heiress.
She turns on her heel and walks back to her chair. “Pierre will escort you out. Don’t ever come back here again.”
“Oh, we won’t. Have a great day.” I walk out of the room with Dominic by my side.
Pierre opens the front door for us, then closes it with a loud bang as soon as we cross the threshold.
“It’s amazing how nasty people get when the cash flow dries up,” Dominic muses. “What’s our next steps?”
“My men are still hunting down Elio. In the meantime we need to make plans to go see that aunt…Dominic!” I grab his arm.
Sitting on top of the hood is another one of the chess pieces from my dad’s set.
And this time it’s a knight.
Chapter forty-eight
“That bitch,” I mutter.
The goldenwood knight chess piece sits perched on the hood of my Mercedes like it owns the damn car. Sunlight glints off the polished surface of the horse’s head. It looks like it's ready to charge at me bringing bad news with it.
My heels grind into the elegant pavers as I attempt to barge through the front doors of the mansion and kill Madeline.
However, I don’t make it very far.
Dominic grabs me by the waist and yanks me back, slamming me against the side of my car.
The cold metal bites through my coat.
“Cipriani,” he growls. “What are you doing?”
“That smug bitch thinks she can play me!” I seethe. “She sits there acting all innocent and offended that we would accuse her of murder when she’s the one behind it all.” I attempt to move past him. “Let me go.” But he holds me tight.
