Chapter 3

That's when I spat, right in Marco's face. Blood and all. "Bullshit. You want my docks and my armory for losing some bastard's kid? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Marco and Veronica both froze, stunned. Then the fury hit.

Veronica burst into theatrical sobs. "Marco, don't bother defending me. Irene's never liked me as a stepmother, she won't listen to reason! I'm unwanted everywhere. Outsiders despise me, my own family schemes against me. Maybe I should just throw myself against a wall and end it all."

She made a move toward the wall. Marco grabbed her, whispering soothing nonsense. "Don't say that, Veronica. I've already called Don Salvatore. He's on his way. He'll set this straight. The Don's the head of this family. Irene has to answer to him."

The crowd murmured in agreement. They abandoned their drinks and settled in front of the main house, bottles in hand, waiting for my father to show. "If you ask me, the Don needs to knock some sense into that girl. She's gotten too big for her boots. Talked about Veronica's baby like it was some bastard's spawn."

"Disgraceful. Raising a daughter this disobedient, what a curse."

I caught Veronica's sly glance as the whispers piled up. She thought she had me. But she'd be disappointed.

I just gave her a cold smirk and didn't even bother to respond. Little did she know, I was the one who wanted my father here right now. More than she ever could.

The Don stepped out with his cigar, and the crowd at the door caught him off guard. He blinked. But before he could ask what was going on, Veronica darted over and melted into his arms, all tears and trembling. "Darling, please, you have to do something. Irene killed our baby. The doctor said it was a boy. A son. Your heir."

My father stiffened. His eyes shot to me. "Irene Moretti, get over here. What the hell happened?"

Before I could answer, Marco stepped in front of me. "Don Salvatore, this is all Irene's fault. You need to make her answer for it."

"Yes!" Veronica clung to his arm, sobbing. "You have to punish her, avenge our son! This evening, Irene pushed me to run a shipment at the docks. I told her I was pregnant and didn't want to go, but she insisted I personally supervise the load. Then at the docks, ambush. Rival crews everywhere. Irene was too scared to go near, so she shoved me in first. There were too many of them. Someone hit me, the crowd pressed in, and I lost the baby right there. Oh, God, darling, our heir. He never even drew breath, and Irene murdered him."

She kept going, rambling and wailing, but she didn't notice my father's face darkening with every word.

She didn't see it at all. Instead, she pressed on, demanding compensation. "Darling, you've spoiled her too much, that's why she has no respect for me, why she'd harm her own brother. Hit her, give her a real beating! And honestly, why does a daughter need so much property? Make her hand over the docks and the armory. I know she's sitting on millions, she should give it all to me."

Her voice grew shrill with greed. Then, slowly, she realized the room had gone dead silent. She turned to look at my father and met a gaze that could kill.

Veronica flinched. Her voice went small. "Darling... why aren't you saying anything?"

My father ground his teeth. "You said Irene dragged you to the docks this evening. And that she cost you the baby?"

"Yes! Marco can vouch for me. After it happened, Irene ran off. Marco found me and drove me to a private clinic, from evening all the way past midnight!"

Marco stepped up and nodded solemnly. "That's right, Don. I happened to be nearby. I saw Veronica bleeding out, rushed her to the clinic. Spent hours there with her."

Veronica pointed a shaking finger at me. "Now hit her, darling! Look at that bitch, she's glaring at me like I'm nothing! So disrespectful to her own stepmother!"

I saw my father raise his arm.

Veronica's eyes glittered with triumph. She didn't even bother with my name anymore; she called me a bitch in front of everyone. She thought I was about to get beaten within an inch of my life.

But then, smack, smack. Two heavy slaps, one on each cheek. Perfectly symmetrical. Within seconds, Veronica's face bloomed with bright red handprints.

She stood there, dazed. Completely blindsided. "Darling, why are you hitting me? Hit Irene! I didn't want to lose our child, it was Irene! She did this! Go after her..."

She kept going, but her voice faltered when she saw the murderous look on my father's face.