Chapter 4

Zoe and I had been friends for twenty years. She was family, even if we didn't share blood.

I had lost Renata. I had lost Bruno. I wouldn't lose Zoe too.

By the pool, Bianca sat in a chair.

Silvio crouched beside her, gently giving her water.

Dozens of guards poured bottle after bottle of whiskey into the pool. The sharp smell of alcohol filled the air.

Empty bottles piled up beside the pool.

Zoe's hands were tied behind her, her mouth taped shut as two guards held her down.

"Zoe!"

I ran toward her, but the guards stopped me.

"Silvio, let her go!"

Silvio looked up and gave me a cold glance.

"Control yourself, Serafina."

"You know what Zoe means to me!"

"And?"

I knew I couldn't fight him right now. I forced my voice to soften.

"Let her go. Please."

Silvio's expression started to soften, but Bianca grabbed his hand, her eyes filling with tears.

"Don Silvio, let Miss Fontana go. I don't want the Donna to hate you for defending me."

Silvio's face darkened.

"Throw Zoe in."

I struggled with all my strength, but two guards pinned me down.

"Zoe has a severe alcohol allergy! She could die!"

"You must still be drunk."

Silvio gave me a cold look.

"Bianca is the one with the alcohol allergy."

"Bianca's faking it! Zoe's allergy is real!"

Silvio ignored me.

Zoe was thrown into the whiskey-filled pool with a huge splash.

I could only watch as her skin turned red and began to swell. Whiskey filled her nose and ears.

A choked sound escaped her throat. She couldn't even cough.

"What do you want me to do? I'll do anything!"

Silvio looked at Bianca.

"Put your foot out."

Confused, Bianca held out her left foot.

Silvio looked down at me.

"Kiss her shoe."

I stared at the leather boot in front of me, stunned.

He wanted me to kiss his mistress's shoe.

Bianca lifted her chin and tapped her boot against the ground.

I bit my lip and bent down.

Bianca laughed above me.

"Be a dear, Serafina. I'm counting on you to take good care of Stefano and me."

I closed my eyes and swore I'd never forget her face.

Silvio finally relented.

"Pull Zoe out."

By the time Zoe was dragged onto the tiles, she wasn't breathing.

I shoved the guards aside, dropped beside her, and cleared the whiskey from her mouth and nose.

"Zoe, wake up!"

She did not respond.

I placed both hands on her chest and started compressions.

One. Two. Three.

"Call an ambulance!"

Nobody moved.

I looked up and screamed, my voice raw, "If she dies here, the Fontana family will go to war with all of you!"

Lucas finally called emergency services.

I knelt on the cold ground, giving Zoe CPR.

By the time the paramedics arrived, my arms were completely numb.

Outside the emergency room, the doctor's words hit me hard.

"The patient went into anaphylactic shock and stopped breathing. Her brain went without oxygen for too long. Even if she survives, she may never wake up."

Through the glass, I watched Zoe lie motionless. Her blood was still on my hands.

Silvio stood at the end of the corridor. For the first time, panic flashed across his face.

"I didn't know she was really allergic."

"I told you more than once."

I looked at him.

Silvio argued, "Bianca lied to me."

"Bianca didn't make you do it. You ordered Zoe into that pool."

My voice was barely above a whisper. "Silvio, you just wanted to force me to bow to her."

The color drained from his face.

I didn't stay to hear his excuses. I called Dario.

"How much longer before the divorce is final?"

"The court has confirmed the signature is valid. The final ruling comes tomorrow. Your assets are frozen for protection. Twelve capos have already left with their men."

"Silvio can't execute you as a traitor now. You represent the Thorne family. The Marino and Fontana families are openly backing you. If he touches you, he'll start a war with all three families."

I stared at the closed emergency-room doors.

My voice came out rough. "Dario, I'll marry you."

My hands shook so badly that I tightened my grip on the phone.

Blood seeped from beneath my torn fingernail.

"But my terms have changed."

My voice had never sounded so cold.

"I want the Nelli family out of Sicily."