Chapter 3

Angelo strode into the room.

His face darkened the moment he saw Layla gripping my wrist.

"Let her go."

Layla hesitated, then released me.

I held up my bruised wrist.

"She took my family card."

"She says I owe you over a hundred and fifty million and wants to sell me into the Draven family to pay it off."

"She even said your child would take over the Romanos someday!"

Angelo frowned at that last part.

"Layla, did you say those things?"

Layla's eyes filled with tears.

"Angelo, let me explain."

She pointed at the ledger.

"I only did this because I love you."

Angelo said nothing.

Tears slid down her face.

"It's been twelve years."

"You run the family. You handle the cargo fleet. Every time a deal goes bad, you're the one who fixes it."

"And Vittoria?"

"She doesn't even know what happened in this family all year. She slaps her seal on the ledger, and we're all supposed to humor her—even let her think she's the Donna."

I couldn't stay quiet.

"That seal is mine."

Layla curled her lip.

"See? She really believes it."

At that, Angelo's expression grew complicated.

Layla caught his sleeve.

"Didn't you say so yourself?"

"Your mother just wanted to spare her feelings. She invented the seal so Vittoria wouldn't be embarrassed about not knowing how to run the family."

"Vittoria thinks she's in charge, but you're the one who actually built something here."

Angelo's frown slowly eased.

Clearly, he agreed.

I looked at him.

"So every Family Day, you thought you were just playing along with me?"

He was quiet for a moment, then sighed.

"Vittoria, it's hard to hear, but that's how it is."

"You were little. Mother loved you, so she let you have your way."

"She had me bring you the ledger to stamp so you'd feel involved."

He reached out to pat my head, the way he had when I was a child.

I stepped away.

I stared at him for a long moment.

So all those twelve years, I'd thought I was granting him another year of authority.

He'd thought he was indulging a little girl.

His hand stopped in midair. With Angelo on her side, Layla lifted her chin.

"Be reasonable, Vittoria."

"Your brother is the real head of the Romano family."

I turned to Angelo.

"So she gets to take my card?"

He frowned.

"Layla went a little too far. But you do spend carelessly. She'll be handling the finances now. Letting her set a limit isn't such a bad thing."

"What about Lorelei?"

"A servant spoke out of turn to the heir's wife. She deserves to be punished."

"And my marriage?"

He paused.

"It's only a meeting."

"The Dravens are serious. You'll have to marry eventually."

I nearly laughed in his face.

Romano daughters had never married into another family.

Angelo had lived with us for twelve years. He knew that.

But now, even that was an old rule he thought should bend for him.

He saw my expression and frowned again.

"I've never mistreated you because you're the former Donna's daughter."

"But I have a wife now. It's time you grew up."

"Without me, who would run the Romanos? Where would you get the money for all those jewels?"

I fell silent.

So after Mother died, Angelo had begun to think the family belonged to him.

I suddenly didn't want to argue anymore.

I asked him one question.

"What about Family Day this year?"

He blinked.

"What about it?"

"The seal that renews your appointment."

I made every word clear.

"What if I don't stamp it?"

Layla laughed first.

"You're still going on about that silly little ritual?"

Angelo's face hardened too.

"Vittoria, stop it."

"It's only a ceremony."

"Do you think the Romanos will stop doing business tomorrow without your stamp?"

I didn't answer.

He took my silence for defeat and softened his tone.

"If it matters that much, I'll go through it with you again this year."

"Afterward, I don't want to hear about it again."

"Layla is my wife. She'll handle family finances from now on. You're grown. You can't expect everyone to revolve around you forever."

Layla finally smiled.

She went to Angelo and slipped her arm through his.

"You need to understand where you stand, Vittoria."

"That little game from childhood won't give you power over your brother."

I looked at the two of them and smiled too.

"Fine."

"We'll talk on Family Day."

Angelo thought I'd finally given in.

Before he left, he turned back with one more order.

"Send Lorelei out to the country. I don't want anyone Layla dislikes in this house."

"The card stays with my wife for now."

"Behave yourself. After Family Day, I'll see about getting it back for you."

I let them go.

Once they were gone, I called for Enzo, the family steward.

"On Family Day, I want all thirteen chiefs and all seventy-two district heads here at the residence."

Enzo looked startled.

"Don't we usually invite only a few chiefs?"

I opened the register of candidates for successor.

"We're choosing again this year."