Chapter 4
Matteo’s rules were simple.
Fear first.
Loyalty second.
Children early.
That third part made me stop reading.
Inside the desk was one of my uncle’s old notebooks. Most of it was useless philosophy about blood, hierarchy, and obedience. Then I found a section titled Raising the Next Romano Generation.
I read three lines.
Closed the book.
Javier watched me.
“You see?”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“I see why nobody wanted his room opened.”
Matteo believed boys should be exposed to violence early so they stopped fearing it. Girls should be taught silence around family business. Children should eat after adults during formal gatherings to learn order.
Every ugly habit dressed as preparation.
I looked toward the window where Leo and Mia waited outside with my guards.
Javier followed my gaze.
“He had a point.”
That answer told me more than the map.
“You attacked Leo because he found the key.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“You attacked Leo because part of you enjoyed proving Matteo right.”
His jaw tightened.
“You’ve made those kids soft.”
There it was.
Not the key.
Not the faction.
My children.
Javier had opinions about them.
Too many.
“Explain.”
“Leo cries.”
“He’s ten.”
“He hesitates.”
“He thinks.”
“He runs to you.”
“He trusts me.”
Javier laughed.
“That’s exactly the problem.”
Something inside me went very still.
Behind us, Clara whispered, “Javier.”
He ignored her.
“Everyone knows it. Your children are being raised like ordinary kids.”
“They are kids.”
“They’re Romanos.”
As if that erased everything else.
I looked at him.
“Did you ever touch them before today?”
Silence.
That was the wrong silence.
I turned to Clara.
Her face changed.
“Clara.”
She shook her head.
Not denial.
Please don’t ask.
I asked anyway.
“What has he done?”
Javier stepped toward her.
I moved between them.
She started crying.
“He tested Leo.”
My stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?”
“Small things.”
I hated that phrase instantly.
“Name one.”
She looked toward the door.
“Last month he locked Leo in the wine pantry for twenty minutes.”
I felt rage arrive.
Slow.
Heavy.
Useful.
“Why?”
“Because Leo said he was afraid of the dark.”
Javier shrugged.
“He isn’t anymore.”
I looked at him.
There are moments when violence feels easy.
That was one.
So I did the harder thing.
I stayed still.
“How many people knew?”
Clara looked at the blue pins.
More than I wanted.
May you like
The faction had not only been rebuilding old leadership.
It had been practicing old rules on my children.
