Chapter 1

Matteo Bellandi and the others were still in the wine cellar downstairs.

Nina Bellandi sat in the middle of the sofa with the four of them gathered around her.

I walked over and set my phone down in front of them. The screen was stopped on one line: [Four fake transfer orders, and she didn't even check.]

Matteo's expression froze. "You saw it?"

"I did."

He leaned lazily back into the sofa. "Well, since you know, there's no point in hiding it from you anymore.

"Nina's only been home for six months. She doesn't know a thing about the family yet, and the situation in Turin is complicated. She'd only cause trouble there."

He looked at me. "You're different. You were maintaining headquarters' systems on your own at sixteen. You can take care of yourself anywhere."

At that, Nina's eyes immediately turned red.

I pointed at the chat log. "So when you said you'd make our engagement public, that was a lie too?"

Matteo's Adam's apple bobbed. "No, that part was real. You told me that if I stayed in Palermo, you'd never go to Turin alone. If I hadn't promised to announce the engagement, you never would have signed."

He was still talking when Nina suddenly stood up, sobbing. "This is all because of me. I should be the one going to Turin."

She picked up her phone. "I'll go to Father right now and have him send me instead of Camilla."

The four of them swarmed around her at once, and Adriano Caruso took the phone right out of her hand. "What kind of nonsense is this? There's been one accident after another in Turin. It's too dangerous. You're not going!"

"But what about Camilla?" Nina was crying so hard her shoulders shook. "She'll be all alone, so far away. I'd feel terrible."

Matteo handed her a tissue. "Camilla's been independent since she was a kid. Something like this won't trip her up.

"You only just came back to the Bellandi family. Focus on settling into Palermo first."

I stood a few steps away, my face cold, watching them take turns comforting her while I was left out in the cold.

They couldn't bear to let Nina leave Palermo, but they had no problem tricking me into going to Turin.

Elio Ferrante closed the file sitting beside his wineglass. "Camilla, I'll admit the method wasn't pretty, but the outcome works out for everyone.

"The Turin outpost has invited you three times. Once you're there, you can take over the entire northern security network.

"Nina stays at headquarters to learn the family business, and the four of us can look after her. Nobody's interests get hurt."

My nose stung. "And what about me? Did anyone ask what I wanted?"

The room fell silent.

Cesare Rinaldi frowned. "You always wanted to go to Turin anyway. We just made the decision you never had the nerve to make yourself."

Two years ago, the family had offered me a deal to go to the Turin outpost and take charge of the northern intelligence and security systems.

I'd turned it down three times, and the only reason was that Matteo was in Palermo.

It was also because I'd believed the four people who grew up with me would always be by my side.

There was no point in saying any of that now.

I picked up my phone to leave, but Matteo reached out and blocked my way. "Where are you going?"

"Home."

"What about our engagement?"

I looked at him and said mockingly, "Do we even have an engagement?"

His face turned ugly. "Camilla, don't say things like that just to spite me.

"I'm going to marry you. I promise. Just go to Turin for now, and when you come back, we'll get married."

Nina spoke up for him in a small voice. "Camilla, Matteo really does care about you. Last night, when you'd had too much to drink, he took you back to your room himself and even left his jacket with you."

I almost laughed out loud.

He'd tricked me into signing a five-year posting away from home, but he'd draped a jacket over me.

By that math, I really ought to be grateful to him.

"Then the five of you can have a nice life together."

I opened the wallet I always carried. Inside was a photo of us at twelve, taken in the estate garden, with all five of our initials etched into the back.

I set it next to Nina's hand. "Didn't you always say you regretted missing out on our childhood?

"Here. It's yours."

Nina didn't dare take it, but Matteo got angry. "Camilla, what exactly are you making a scene about? Didn't you always used to say the five of us would never split up?"

"That was then. This is now."

I turned and walked away.

At that same moment, my phone buzzed.

[Agreement delivered. Once signed, your former family may not recall, track, or interfere with your appointment.]

[Confirm?]

I tapped Confirm without a moment's hesitation.

Since they wanted to drive me out of Palermo, I'd let them have exactly what they wanted.