Chapter 3

I spent the entire night gathering evidence.

Someone had seen Bianca buy a veterinary stimulant before the christening, a drug that could drive an animal wild. Another person had smelled it on the blanket.

She had been abusing Bruno ever since I went to prison. He attacked her because of the drug on the blanket and because he remembered what she'd done to him.

As for the order to kill Bruno, Silvio hadn't given it himself.

But he had locked me in the doghouse, ignored Lucas's warning, and given Bianca control of the estate.

Bianca had used that power to kill Bruno.

Silvio wasn't innocent.

He had put the weapon in her hands.

I made three copies of the statements and purchase records. I sent one to Dario and another to my family. I put the last copy in an envelope.

When I finished, I pressed Bruno's photo to my chest.

"Sweetheart, I'm going to avenge you."

I found Silvio in the garden.

He looked at me, calm as ever.

"Come to apologize?"

"No. I've come to prove you wrong."

I held up the file.

"Someone put an animal stimulant on the blanket. Bianca also used your name to order Bruno's death."

Silvio's expression changed slightly.

"The Don is never wrong."

Bianca cut me off, slipping her arm through his and gently tugging him away.

"I think I hear Stefano crying. Will you come with me and check on him?"

Silvio smiled at her warmly.

"He's my son too."

He glanced at my file, then walked away with Bianca.

"I'll have Lucas look into it. If the evidence is real, I'll handle it."

I watched him go without following.

Silvio had time to read the evidence.

He simply didn't want to admit the truth. He had locked his wife in a doghouse for another woman, then given that woman the power to kill someone I considered family.

"See? You can't keep him."

Bianca had come back, laughing softly.

"You couldn't even save that dog. He could have lived. But he broke free just to save you."

"You gave that order in Silvio's name."

"So what?"

Bianca glanced at the envelope in my hand.

"The Don ordered everyone to obey me. Even if he finds out, he'll say I was only protecting his son."

She suddenly fell to the ground and burst into tears.

"Donna, I'm willing to die for what happened to that dog. But please, think about the family's honor. Don't hurt the heir just because you're jealous!"

"Serafina, I've warned you enough!"

Silvio came back.

He carefully helped Bianca up.

"Where does it hurt?"

Bianca shook her head, still smiling through her tears.

"Donna didn't do anything to me. My legs just gave out."

Silvio looked down at me.

"Try that again, and I won't let you off."

"What about my evidence?"

"Lucas will read it."

Then he picked Bianca up and walked away without another glance at me.

I had my answer.

He would let Lucas investigate, but until the truth came out, Bianca would keep her power.

He was betting that I would put up with it.

But the divorce ruling was almost final.

At an underground bar, I downed three glasses of whiskey. My throat and stomach burned.

Zoe joked, "With your tolerance, a few more drinks and you'll be meeting God."

"That's what I have you for."

I glanced at the drink beside her. It was called a Masquerade.

The amber liquid looked just like my whiskey, but it had no alcohol in it.

Zoe was allergic to alcohol. Only her closest friends knew.

I told her everything that had happened.

Zoe was furious. She grabbed her phone.

"I'm calling my dad right now. He can go after the Nelli family's businesses."

I put my hand over hers.

"Wait until the ruling takes effect. If we act now, Silvio will know I'm moving the assets."

"Donna has time to sit around drinking. Guess that dog didn't mean much to you after all."

I frowned and looked over.

Bianca stood nearby with her phone raised. She had just sent Silvio her location.

Zoe stepped in front of me with a sneer.

"You saved us the trouble of finding you, you shameless homewrecker who used a baby to get ahead."

Bianca looked at us, smug.

"But Donna was married for ten years and never got pregnant once. I'll give him all the children he wants."

"Why don't you get lost?"

Bianca smiled cruelly.

"Don't you want to know how much Bruno suffered before he died?"

"They beat him to death with clubs and he didn't make a sound. That's what he got for trying to save you."

My hand reached for the bottle.

Zoe was faster. She threw her sparkling water in Bianca's face.

Bianca fell backward, covering her face and screaming.

"Donna, help me! Please get me to a hospital. I'm going to die!"

It was just sparkling water. Why was she making such a big deal out of it?

Less than thirty seconds later, Silvio stormed into the bar with his men.

He'd been nearby all along.

"Bianca, what happened?"

"Miss Fontana threw liquor at me!"

Silvio glared at me.

"Look what your precious best friend did. Bianca is allergic to alcohol!"

Zoe held up her glass, confused.

"It was sparkling water."

Bianca suddenly stopped crying and pulled down her collar.

A large red rash covered her skin.

I caught a faint medicinal scent coming from her collar.

"Zoe, this isn't over."

Silvio carried Bianca out, but glanced back at Zoe.

His expression was so calm that it made me uneasy.

Late that night, I called Zoe.

No one answered.

Her maid said, "Miss Fontana never came home. I thought she was with you."

My heart jumped into my throat.