Chapter 3
My father never used the word throne.
Other people did.
He called it the Inner Chair.
One seat at the head of a private Bellini table where major family disputes were decided before reaching the wider organization.
When he died, I abolished it.
That angered half the old guard.
Good.
The Inner Chair allowed senior men to block decisions simply because their fathers had once blocked decisions.
I preferred responsibility attached to actual command.
Apparently seven captains preferred inheritance.
“What does Ada have to do with the Inner Chair?”
Gavin wiped his mouth.
“Everything.”
Rhea shot him a look.
Too late.
I waited.
He continued.
The old council believed I abolished the chair because I feared challenge.
They wanted proof.
If I surrendered something significant to save Ada on camera, they would claim emotional instability.
If I refused, they would claim I valued power over blood.
Perfect trap.
Every outcome supported a story.
Except one.
I arrived.
Freed Ada.
Did not kneel.
Did not bargain.
And left the camera running.
That was not what they purchased.
“Who designed it?”
Gavin smiled.
“You know him.”
I did.
Before he said the name.
Because only one man spoke about my father’s system as though it were scripture.
Sebastian Bellini.
My uncle.
Seventy-one.
My father’s younger brother.
Retired publicly.
Never mentally.
I looked at Rafe.
“Find him.”
Rafe hesitated.
“He’s at the estate.”
I frowned.
“Where?”
“Your father’s old dining room.”
Of course.
The room where the Inner Chair used to sit.
Then the camera monitor flickered.
One viewer returned.
Only one.
A voice came through the speaker.
Deep.
Older.
Familiar.
“You passed the first test, nephew.”
Ada went completely still.
So did I.
Sebastian.
I moved closer to the camera.
“You paid to watch my sister suffer.”
His voice remained calm.
“I paid to see whether suffering still controls you.”
I looked at Rhea.
Then Gavin.
Neither met my eyes.
My uncle continued.
“Come to the old dining room.”
A pause.
“Alone.”
May you like
I almost laughed.
“Then you don’t know me as well as you think.”
