Chapter 4

The advisor marched me into the hall.

The family's capos lined both sides of the long walnut table like a row of guards.

Elio sat at the head like a king, looking down over his generals.

A chair had been set beside him, and Fiona sat in it, watching me, smiling sweetly.

Elio spread his hands, his tone gone cold.

"You wanted fair, so I'll give you fair. Let's all hear how everyone judges it."

I looked around the room, dazed, blood roaring up to my head.

Elio said, "I've laid it all out for them. Now let's hear your thoughts."

Fiona was pretty and knew how to sweet-talk, and she'd spent plenty of time winning over the capos at Elio's side.

Now every one of them spoke up for her.

"I think the Donna was out of line. The Donna's in the wrong."

"I know what Fiona's like. She's an innocent girl. There's no way she has any scheme in her."

"I hear the Donna just tried to leave. Guilty conscience, maybe?"

Elio raised an eyebrow and looked at me. "See? It isn't just my opinion."

This was the man I'd loved for seven years.

To make me apologize to Fiona, he'd actually called a family tribunal.

My nails dug into my palms until they bled, and my voice shook as I asked.

"Why, Elio? Why would you take it this far?"

"Because you wronged her. Fiona cried for a solid hour. Her eyes are swollen from it."

Elio drummed his fingers idly on the table, and each tap landed on my heart like a hammer.

"An hour has passed, and you still won't see your fault. So it's left to me to make it right for you."

He sighed, and his voice softened a little.

"Danielle. It's only an apology. It's nothing to make a fuss over."

"Don't be angry. Do it for me. Be good, all right?"

I bit down hard on my lip until my mouth filled with the taste of rust.

A memory rang in my ears, the promise he'd made when he proposed.

"Danielle, I can't stand to let anyone hold me. You're the only exception."

"Marry me, and I'll spend my whole life holding you, and only you."

The same lips that once said words that moved me to tears.

How were they saying something this cruel now?

He had lied.

I wasn't the only exception.

Fiona was.

I clenched my jaw and bit out each word. "I will not apologize. I did nothing wrong."

Elio's brows dropped until they left his eyes as two thin slits.

Thin and sharp as a blade.

"You did nothing wrong? Then it was Mario who did." He snapped his fingers. "Bring him in."

They dragged in a young man.

It was the new recruit who'd mistaken Fiona for the Donna that night.

"With him I won't go easy. You make a mistake, you pay for it."

A cruel smile curved the corner of Elio's mouth. "Nothing much. Just the right hand."

The color drained from Mario's face. He crumpled to the floor, shaking without stop.

"Danielle, I'll leave the final call to you."

Elio held my eyes. "So which is it? Were you in the wrong, or was Mario?"

I looked at Mario. His eyes were full of desperate pleading.

He was so young. In the end I couldn't bring myself to let him be crippled.

The voices ringing in my ears suddenly fell from a great height and shattered, gone without a trace.

I went calm. "Fine. I'll apologize. But not here."

Fiona covered her mouth and giggled. "I understand, Donna. There are too many people here. You're embarrassed."

I answered her with a cold smile.

Elio eased back, his eyes turning gentle again. "All right. You pick the time and place."

I thought about it. "Nine tonight. Your study."

Elio stood, and Fiona rose with him, practically pressed against his body.

But the sight stirred nothing in me anymore.

"Good. We'll be waiting for you."

With that, Elio left, Fiona in tow.

While no one was paying attention, I slipped quickly out of the Moretti estate.

I didn't even want my bags. I only wanted to leave.

Straight to the airport, and I bought a seat on the earliest flight.

The moment I boarded, seven years with Elio came to a full and final stop.

When I stepped off the plane, a weight lifted from my chest.

The moment I turned my phone back on, it started buzzing like mad.