Chapter 4
Ethan wanted access to the docks.
Not ownership.
Access.
The Cole family had spent years trying to move closer to Lombardi shipping operations. I kept them at arm’s length because Ethan confused aggression with competence.
Diane apparently admired that.
“If Julian became underboss,” I said, “you became his liaison.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
Vanessa looked at him.
“You told me this was about protecting me.”
He laughed bitterly.
“There was nothing to protect.”
Cruel.
Useful.
Vanessa’s face collapsed.
I watched carefully.
She had betrayed my family.
That did not mean Ethan had not betrayed her too.
Diane had built the entire plan from separate appetites.
Julian wanted a son.
Vanessa wanted permanence.
Ethan wanted access.
Diane wanted influence over succession.
And Avice wanted to sit beside her grandfather.
Only one desire in the room had been harmless.
I looked at Vanessa.
“How did the lie start?”
She closed her eyes.
Not with Diane.
That surprised me.
Six months earlier, Julian had nearly ended the relationship.
Not because of another woman.
Because he finally realized Vanessa treated Avice like an obstacle.
Vanessa panicked.
She told him she was pregnant.
One lie.
Personal.
Desperate.
Julian stayed.
Then she needed time.
A week became a month.
Loose clothing became maternity dresses.
Morning nausea performed around breakfast.
Ethan helped her find the first padded belly.
Then Diane noticed.
“What did she say?” I asked.
Vanessa wiped her face.
“She said I had made a stupid lie useful.”
I looked at my sister.
That sounded exactly like her.
Diane did not expose Vanessa.
She expanded her.
Suddenly the fake baby had a gender.
A boy.
Suddenly capos heard Julian was expecting another child.
Suddenly donors congratulated him.
Then Diane began whispering that a man preparing to raise the next Lombardi son should stand closer to command.
A private relationship lie became political infrastructure.
Julian stared at Vanessa.
“You were going to tell me our son died, weren’t you?”
She went still.
There.
He had finally reached the end.
Eight months means time is running out.
A fake pregnancy needs an ending.
Vanessa looked at Diane.
My sister looked away.
May you like
I did not need another answer.
They had already planned a tragedy for a child who never existed.
