Chapter 5

The moment I finished, the whole room went silent.

They all stared at me. Just the day before, they'd surrounded me at the affairs office and demanded compensation, and every word of it had come out of their own mouths.

The office had security cameras, and the staff had witnessed the whole thing.

I dealt with the affairs office all the time, and this time the recruits didn't have a leg to stand on. Some of them seemed to realize it, and their bravado faded.

The silence pushed Beth's simmering anger over the edge. She shoved me hard.

"It's your fault! You're threatening us now.

"You're the one who converted the casino and invited us to move in. We deserve whatever compensation you give us. Don't let her scare you!

"She really did order us around! We have proof."

Once Beth had the others on her side again, she turned to me. "You were trying to win new recruits over to your side. You're up to no good.

"Ordering us around is enough for the family to come after you! You may be friends with the affairs office staff, but let's see who stands up for you when we say you're planning to betray the family!"

Every word was meant to wound, and none of it was anything I could disprove.

I wasn't afraid. I took out my phone and called the family affairs office. "Some people are causing trouble at my house. Please send bodyguards right away."

Before I could finish, Beth snatched the phone out of my hand.

She didn't look the least bit worried. "Threatening us? You're the one in the wrong."

She turned to the others. "Unpack your things. We're living here. Don't be afraid of her. If she won't compensate us, we'll go straight to the Don!

"We'll tell him she was trying to win us over. He'll figure out for himself that she wanted us to turn against the family! Why should we pay for her mistakes?

"She's the one who converted the casino. We never asked her to."

Someone raised a hand and shouted in agreement. "Exactly!"

I clenched my fists and reached for my phone, but Beth shoved me the moment I stepped toward her.

I lost my balance and fell to the floor.

They'd already started unpacking, and some were heading upstairs.

Then I remembered my mother's ashes were still in the master bedroom. I'd planned to take them with me the next day.

Ignoring the pain in my ankle, I hurried upstairs.

As I rounded the corner, I saw Beth throw my mother's urn out of the bedroom.

"Why the hell is there an urn in here? That's bad luck!" she snapped as it hit the floor.

The lid flew off, spilling the ashes across the floor. The people coming up the stairs walked right through them.

I shoved them aside and scooped the ashes back into the urn with my hands.

My heart was pounding, and my knuckles had gone white.

I clutched the urn and glared at Beth. She leaned against the doorframe. "Who told you to leave that thing in our house?"

She spoke as if it were nothing, as if the house had always belonged to her.

I stared at her, hatred in my eyes.

A message came from the real estate agent: the house had sold, and the money was in my account.

The agent added, "Ms. Russo, the buyer will be there tomorrow."

I texted back, "Okay. I've left. The keys are by the door. There's a group of people causing trouble in the house. Handle them however you see fit."

The agent replied, "Understood, Ms. Russo."

My hands were shaking as I got to my feet. Without looking at any of them, I stared at the messages on my phone and let out a soft laugh.

I picked up my suitcase and walked out. One of the recruits grew nervous and asked Beth, "What if she goes to the affairs office for help?"

"Who cares? Even if someone comes, we have our reasons.

"And then she'll get kicked out of the family!"

I heard them but didn't answer. I took a cab straight to the airport.

I spent the night there. That evening, Beth put up another post on the family message board, twisting the story again.

She said I'd broken the rules and tried to win them over to my side. According to her, I'd repeatedly asked them to work for me so I could gain the upper hand over the affairs office.

I read the post and scoffed.

She'd posted first because she was afraid I'd report her to the affairs office.

I didn't care. I locked my phone, then retrieved the footage from my home's security cameras and sent it all to Frank.

At dawn, I boarded my flight to North Haven.

I later learned that, while Beth slept, the buyer arrived at the house with several people. The lock turned, the door opened, and everyone inside woke with a start.

Around the same time, a different kind of comment began appearing under the post smearing me.