Chapter 7
Not both children.
Leo.
That distinction mattered.
I asked why.
Javier refused to answer.
Clara did.
“Matteo’s rule.”
I looked at her.
She pointed toward the notebook.
“The eldest son.”
Of course.
The old disease always finds a child to symbolize the future.
Leo was ten.
Old enough, according to Matteo’s followers, to begin “proper preparation.”
They planned to move him to the old Romano hunting property for three days.
No phone.
No Mia.
No me.
Javier called it an initiation.
I called it what it was.
Abduction.
He scoffed.
“He would have come back stronger.”
I stared at him.
“After three days with who?”
Silence.
Clara answered.
“Dominic Sarto.”
My expression changed.
Dominic had been my father’s adviser.
Seventy-one.
Retired publicly.
Still invited to every funeral, wedding, baptism, and anniversary because old Mafia families confuse longevity with sainthood.
I had not seen him at the barbecue.
Now I knew why.
He was waiting at the hunting property.
I looked at Javier.
“You’re not leading this.”
He said nothing.
“Dominic is.”
His jaw tightened.
There.
He hated hearing it.
“Matteo’s rules. Dominic’s network. Your face.”
I stepped closer.
“You’re not rebuilding the old family.”
I looked at Clara.
“You’re being used to introduce it.”
Javier stood.
“You think Dominic needs me?”
“No.”
I smiled faintly.
“I think that’s exactly your problem.”
He looked away.
Ambitious men hate discovering they are bridges, not destinations.
I sent Thomas to secure the hunting property.
No violence unless necessary.
Bring Dominic here.
Javier laughed.
“You think he’s waiting?”
I looked at him.
“Why wouldn’t he?”
“Because this was never about taking Leo tonight.”
Clara stared at her husband.
“What?”
There it was.
Again.
Different versions.
Javier smiled.
“The pickup map was for later.”
Clara went pale.
I stepped closer.
“Then what happens tonight?”
He looked toward the main house.
“At dinner, one of your captains tells you Leo embarrassed the family.”
I waited.
“You defend him.”
“Yes.”
“Three more agree.”
My chest tightened.
“Then?”
“You remove them.”
He smiled.
“And Dominic gets exactly what he needs.”
“What?”
“Proof you purge men for criticizing your children.”
I finally understood.
Not one trap.
A sequence.
Create small conflicts.
Force me to choose.
Build a story over months.
By the time anyone moved against me openly, the family would already believe they were correcting a father who let love destroy judgment.
Javier had not attacked Leo impulsively.
May you like
He had started the final phase early.
And Leo finding the key had forced him to rush.
