Chapter 3

My vision dimmed, and my knife hand wavered.

Arthur knocked the knife out of my hand and shoved me to the floor.

"Arthur, you're finally here."

He pulled Vivian into his arms without even glancing at Byrne, who lay near the door.

Vivian huddled in his arms, playing the victim.

"I was only trying to help. I brought a doctor to check on her and talked to her about recovering in Mexico, and she tried to kill me!"

Arthur looked furious.

"Carl, kick the knife away."

Carl stepped forward and kicked the knife under the bed.

I slumped by the bed and pointed at the agreement on the floor.

"Arthur, open your eyes and look at what she brought!

"She forged a psychiatric evaluation to have me declared incompetent. She even wants to sell me to a Mexican drug trafficker!"

I stared at him as tears filled my eyes.

"The family never deals with drug traffickers. Did you forget every rule my father set?"

Arthur glanced at the torn papers on the floor. There was no guilt in his eyes, only disappointment.

"Helena, stop making a scene.

"Six months ago, I spent three days and three nights in the hospital fighting for my life. I'm sick of living like this. Times have changed. Those old rules are outdated."

He sounded as if he were doing me a favor.

"We need Juárez's money. Marrying him is the only way you can be of any use to this family.

"He promised me he'd keep you away from mob violence from now on."

He sighed, like he'd made some noble decision.

"And what about the assets in my name? The shipping company? Where do you think the tax-exemption approvals come from every year? Do you really think your name alone gets them approved?"

Arthur wasn't even listening. He cut me off impatiently.

"What do you know about business? Vivian will manage your assets for you."

"And Byrne? He saved my father's life three times!"

"He's forgotten who's in charge now." Arthur waved a hand. "Take him to the farm upstate. He's not coming back."

The bodyguards dragged the unconscious Byrne out.

I looked at his smug face and burst out laughing.

I laughed until my chest hurt.

So ten years of fixing his messes and covering his bad debts behind the scenes had only made him more powerful.

In that moment, I lost all trust in him.

It took me a long time to pull myself together and look at him again.

"What will you tell the family council on Christmas Eve, five days from now?"

Vivian, tucked in Arthur's arms, laughed first.

Arthur's face went dark.

"You really think they care about that ring? That was just a game the old man played to keep you company at Christmas.

"For ten years, it's been my gun holding the Corsini family together!"

Arthur pointed at me and delivered his ultimatum.

"In five days, you'll sign the waiver in front of the family council. Then you'll go to Mexico like a good girl and enjoy yourself. Or I'll drag you there."

Arthur kicked the medical kit across the floor and barked an order at Carl.

"Give her the sedative.

"Until Christmas Eve, watch her every second."

Carl lowered his head.

"Yes, Don."

Carl picked up the syringe.

Seeing that, Arthur put his arm around Vivian and left.

I sat on the floor and looked at Carl.

"You're going to do this to me too?"

Carl said nothing. He snapped the syringe in half with one hand and tossed it in the trash.

"Keep your head clear, Miss Helena, and wait for Christmas Eve."

Carl moved aside.

The fire had gone out long ago. I curled up on the cold floor.

For all I knew, my most loyal butler might be dead.

The man who'd protected me for ten years had handed me over to a drug trafficker himself.

My hand shook as I reached into my pocket.

My fingers closed around the signet ring my father had slipped onto my thumb with his own hands before he died.

The last of my tears dried up. So did my weakness.

I clutched the ring tight.

"Carl."

He didn't move.

"How much dirty work have you done for him? You know every secret he's hiding.

"Today he'll sell me to a drug lord to clean up his image. Tomorrow he'll decide you're a threat too.

"Get me proof that Arthur is working with drug traffickers.

"On Christmas Eve, this ring is yours."

Carl's eyes stayed on the ring.

His fingers twitched, though he didn't seem to notice.

He didn't answer me.