Chapter 4

For the next few days, I didn't fight or cause a scene.

I put on the white dress Vivian sent over and curled up on the couch all day.

Vivian came to see me once.

She wore a winner's smile.

"Two days without food, and you don't even have the strength to yell, huh?"

I ignored her.

Every day at the same time, Carl brought me a simple meal.

Then he'd do a quick sweep of the room.

On the fourth day, there was a smuggling manifest under the plate.

That was his answer.

Then Arthur showed up in person.

When he saw me sitting quietly on the couch, he patted my shoulder.

"That's more like it. Behave, and you'll live longer."

He tossed a transfer agreement at me.

"Tonight, hand over the ring and sign this in front of the seven elders.

"Juárez will give you one hundred thousand dollars a month to live on. You'll want for nothing in Mexico."

I looked up at him.

"Fine. I'll bring the ring."

Arthur pinched my chin, pleased.

"Good girl. Don't embarrass the Cole family."

He didn't even call it the Corsini family anymore.

There was a suitcase in the corner.

Vivian had told me to pack it for Mexico a couple of days earlier.

Arthur shoved the suitcase at Carl.

"Put her things in the car. Send her off as soon as the Christmas Eve ceremony is over."

Arthur spoke as if he were throwing out the trash.

...

St. Bartholomew's.

Every port and casino boss had arrived, along with the seven elders of the family council.

In front of each pew sat a Christmas present.

Inside each one was a shipping manifest proving Arthur was working with Mexican drug traffickers.

There was also proof that he'd secretly sold off the family's ports.

Arthur never would have guessed what I'd done.

My suitcase had been full of evidence against him.

The seven elders were livid.

A few of the bosses already had their hands on their guns.

Midnight on the dot.

Christmas Eve had arrived.

Arthur made a grand entrance with Vivian on his arm.

Vivian had the nerve to walk up onto the main stage and sit in the Don's chair.

The whole place went dead silent.

Arthur mistook everyone's murderous looks for awe.

He slapped his sidearm down on the stage and held out his hand to the chief elder.

"Let's begin. Starting this year, we're getting rid of the one-year rule. I'll be acting Don for life."

The chief elder didn't say a word.

I stepped in through the side door.

The gold signet ring was on my thumb.

Arthur took half a step toward me and held out his hand.

"Helena, give it to me."

I kept my eyes ahead and didn't stop.

I swept past him without sparing him so much as a glance.

Arthur's hand hung in midair.

He turned, looking furious.

"Helena! You just walked right past me!"

I stopped in front of Carl, who stood behind him.

Our eyes met, and Carl dipped his head.

I slid the ring off my thumb and handed it to him.

The chief elder stood.

"Authority as acting Don has been transferred. Under the old rules, Carl takes over as of today."

Dozens of mob bosses rose to their feet and took off their hats in respect.

No one looked at Arthur again.

Vivian sensed something was wrong and slid off the Don's chair in fright.

Arthur lost control. He grabbed his gun from the stage and aimed it at Carl.

"Carl, you're nothing but my dog! Give me that ring!"

Carl, wearing the ring now, didn't even blink.

I looked at Arthur and said calmly, "Do it."

Two gunshots.

A bullet struck each of Arthur's knees.

He screamed and dropped to his knees.

Carl stepped forward and pressed his gun to Arthur's forehead.

The smell of blood filled the air.

I fought down my nausea and stepped around the blood on the floor.

I kicked Vivian out of the way.

Then I sat down in the Don's chair.

Arthur stared at me in disbelief.

"That's impossible! I've been running the family for ten years. Why would the family council listen to you?"

The chief elder gave a cold laugh and threw a file in Arthur's face.

"Idiot! Why do you think customs let your ships through every time? Why do you think the people you crossed let you off?

"It was all because Miss Helena was helping you behind the scenes!"

I looked down at Arthur, writhing on the floor.

"Didn't you always say that every Christmas, you were just playing a game to keep me company?

"Well, starting today, Carl can play that game with me instead."