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I gently brushed the napkin over my mouth and tossed it next to me.
“You—you’ve got this all wrong,” she managed to sputter and turned to Mama. “Please, Andrea, you have to know it was all Roberto. He had his hands in so many pockets. I begged him to stop, but he wouldn’t listen to me.” Mama continued to eat, so she awkwardly twisted in her chair to avoid looking at Roberto’s torso. “Piero, we have land, money, and-and-and—.”
“We now own your land, your money, and now you.” I placed the DeSimones’ deed and the papers to their syndicate’s trust and pointed to where Roberto had signed it over to the Capri Syndicate. He’d had no choice but to sign it the week prior when I threatened to oust him for attempting to sexually assault a member of our house staff. Donte, who was still simmering over the sexual assault of one of his people, slammed the glass down in front of her and roughly poured the water with a curse.
Bria’s face fell with confusion, and I knew she was freaking out inside. It only made this moment so much sweeter.
“Mama?”
“We should show a little grace because, after all, she did reunite you with your love.” She folded her napkin into a neat square as she went on. “How would you prefer to go?"
“Please, please, Andrea,” Bria held her hands up like she was praying, “I thought we were like sisters.”
“You tried to kill my husband.”
“It wasn’t—”
“I suggest you start running now,” Mama warned, and Bria glanced at me as if she’d misheard her. “Bria, go.”
With shaky hands, she pressed her palms onto the table and stood, wobbling in her cheap heels. Her mascara ran in dark paths down her cheeks. She looked up then suddenly raced off toward the trees that led to the road.
“Allow me.” Papa handed Mama a gun and stood behind her to keep her steady. “Line her up and…”
Bang!Bria’s body jolted forward then tumbled to the ground in a heap.
“Perfect shot, Mama,” I gave a happy nod, “straight through the rib cage. Hopefully, it clipped the heart just enough for her to feel the pain.”
“I have never been prouder.” Papa leaned down and kissed her for a long moment.
“Well, if this isn’t the best anniversary gift, I don’t know what is.” Vinni clapped his hands.
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, and I pulled it out. It was Donatello.
“Yeah?”
“Boss, I’m in town, and I was just talking to the minister. Apparently, his church was broken into last night. He was hit with something, some cash was taken, but he’s all right, just some bruises and a black eye.”
I moved away from the table and turned my back while anger festered deep down inside of me.
“Who was it?”
“Mariano.”
“As much as I appreciated the trip to town and the shopping spree, Nonna Rosa, it really wasn’t necessary.”
“It was, actually.” She slid her finger over the screen of her phone as she read something, and I was left to mull over what she meant. We sat in a sweet little café where Nonna Rosa said the food was good. We planned to have a quick bite before we returned home. It was a place I knew I’d have enjoyed if I was with a friend, instead of sitting here with this evil old woman, far away from Ugo.
I decided to question her. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why was this necessary?”
She looked up, placed her phone on the table, and leaned back. I was pleased she was wearing sunglasses, because her eyes made me uneasy.
“We have a lot of company coming over the next few months, and I need you to look your best. And, though you have an eye for fashion, your small suitcase only held so much. If you are to be head of this household, you will need to dress the part. How you dress says a lot about you, and in this life, everything counts.”
“Fair enough.” I tapped my finger on the table and slowly counted to six. I had to make sure I didn’t rush this next part. “Fiano Romano.” I said, as though distracted. Then I waited another beat, knowing I had her attention.
