Chapter 8
Elena survived seven days.
Seven days while I buried her.
Seven days while Bianca visited my house with food and condolences.
Seven days while Marco stood beside my coffin.
I looked at Samuel.
“Where did she go?”
“North.”
“Where?”
“She wouldn’t tell me.”
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
That answer hurt.
“She thought Bellandi men were compromised.”
“Were they?”
Samuel nodded.
“At least four.”
I looked at Elias.
His jaw tightened.
Names mattered now.
“What happened to you?”
“Marco found me.”
Hannah grabbed his hand.
Samuel continued.
“They wanted Elena’s location.”
“You knew?”
“No.”
“They believed you.”
“Yes.”
“So they kept you.”
“Until I remembered.”
He laughed without humor.
“I never did.”
Marco finally spoke.
“He could have left years ago.”
Everyone turned.
Samuel’s face changed.
Marco shrugged.
“He only had to give us one name.”
Hannah stared.
“You kept my father underground for two years because he wouldn’t betray a woman?”
Marco smiled.
“He chose.”
There it was.
Victim blaming again.
Samuel looked at his daughter.
“I’m sorry.”
Hannah started crying.
“For what?”
“For leaving you alone.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“They took you.”
Marco rolled his eyes.
“Everyone is always taken in your version.”
I turned.
“And in yours?”
“People make decisions.”
“Like Elena?”
“She should have stopped digging.”
“And Samuel?”
“He should have talked.”
“And my daughters?”
Bianca answered:
“They should call me Mama.”
I looked at her.
She lifted her chin.
“At least I stayed.”
Lily heard her from the doorway.
My daughter had slipped past Elias.
She looked at Bianca.
“No.”
One tiny word.
Bianca’s face hardened.
Lily ran to Hannah.
Bianca laughed cruelly.
“Of course.”
She pointed.
“Run to the waitress who sneaks you bread.”
Lily hugged Hannah.
Samuel watched.
His expression changed.
He looked at me.
“How long has this been happening?”
“Six months.”
His face went pale.
“Then Elena was right.”
My heart stopped.
“About what?”
Samuel looked at Bianca.
“She said if Bianca ever got close to the triplets, it would mean the second plan had started.”
Bianca whispered:
“Samuel.”
Too late.
“What second plan?”
May you like
He looked at me.
“To make the girls accept Bianca before they removed you.”
