Chapter 45 - Marco

I could see the confusion in the eyes of everyone gathered in the mansion's gardens—it wasn't expected to celebrate when our troops were about to invade Cosa Nostra territories and claim them as ours, but it was necessary to publicly declare Nero's union with Svetlana.

My brother hadn't been at all happy with the news, but he knew there was no escape—not after I'd already given my word. He also knew we were all making sacrifices for the Camorra's growth, and it was his turn now.

"Everyone's looking at you, waiting for the big announcement," Angela whispered discreetly beside me, sliding her hand along my arm, and I wanted to go back to the training room, where just a little while ago she was screaming in pleasure bent over the table.

I let out a sigh and spotted Nero, who looked like he had a stick up his ass given his uncomfortable expression. He'd been trying to talk to his fiancée since they sat next to each other, but the girl didn't seem capable of speaking.

I stood, tapping my glass twice, drawing everyone's attention.

"We're here today, gathered among friends and family, to celebrate the engagement of these two young people," I raised my glass toward them, prompting everyone there to do the same. "May your union be prosperous and bring honor to our families!"

Even the Russians agreed with my words, nodding and exclaiming the same. But Angela did more than that—she stood and circled the table, going to the couple.

My wife hugged Nero, saying something funny to him, and managed to coax a small smile from that sullen face. Then she turned to Svetlana with a sweet smile and hugged her tightly, murmuring something in the young woman's ear that made her blush and her eyes well up with tears.

When she returned to the chair beside me, everyone was already talking and laughing, drinking, eager for the next steps.

"I hope Nero changes his aversion to marriage, or he'll end up making that poor girl even more unhappy," she said with a long sigh.

"He'll have to change, or they'll both be unhappy—because he knows there's no turning back. Nero will need to grow up and make this marriage work. Now tell me what you said to her?"

Angela drank the liquid from her glass before turning her face back to me. I knew something was wrong there—ever since yesterday when she entered the office, there was a shadow in her gaze, as if there was something hidden she didn't want to tell me, but I hadn't questioned or tried to force her to talk until now.

"I welcomed her to the family—in Russian."

"Russian? I had no idea you spoke Russian, little angel."

"There are many things about me you still don't know, husband," she smiled and took the glass from my hands, drinking the liquid completely.

"What happened yesterday, Angela? I know you're hiding something from me since you went to talk to your mother. What did she say to you?" I questioned her once and for all, watching her expression turn serious.

"Do you love me, Marco?" Her question left me confused, but I should have expected that wretched mother of hers to try planting ideas in her head. "Do you love me enough to let me go?"

What kind of question was that? We'd just gotten married; she'd turned against her father as I'd planned, and soon we'd be ruling over her father's territory. Everything was perfect and resolved between us—why would she have these doubts now?

"I'd never let you go," I leaned closer to her, our gazes inches apart and our noses almost touching. "We're one, darling, and we'll stay that way until death do us part."

Her nostrils flared, and she sighed, but she didn't look away from me, and I saw disappointment take over her brown irises.

"But that doesn't mean you love me," Angela turned her face toward the people celebrating in front of us, ignoring my closeness. "How foolish I was."

She let out a low, scornful laugh that made my stomach churn and a bitter taste fill my mouth.

Love was something I couldn't give anyone—it went beyond my capabilities. I knew Angela affected me in a way I didn't understand; she'd become the most important thing to me. But that wasn't love.

"I never promised you love, angel. I always told you we'd be equals and rule together," she shook her head in denial, without turning her face to me. "And I never demanded love from you."

I reminded her, but the conversation around us turned into exclamations. The men stood, and I saw Nero turn protectively toward his fiancée before I even turned and spotted Angela's mother crossing the lawn.

"What have you done, you idiot!" she shouted, staggering toward us. "How... How could you?"

Angela stood, facing her mother without showing any surprise or shock at seeing her stumbling toward us. The woman stopped a chair's distance away, swaying back and forth before blood started trickling from her lips.

"I did the best for my family. I couldn't let you keep spreading your hatred for everyone here, trying to find someone to kill Marco for you!" Angela exclaimed, shocking me and making me stand in that instant. "I hope you find your own poison satisfactory."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing in their conversation. So that's what had been troubling Angela's mind? Her mother had asked her to poison me, and she used the poison on her own witch? Why hadn't she told me, and how did she have the courage to kill her mother?

"You're even stupider... than I thought!" she shouted, even as blood dripped from her lips. "He'll never..."

"No, Mom—you'll never manipulate me with your lies and deceptions anymore," Angela puffed out her chest the instant her mother collapsed to the floor, eyes bulging and body shaking before finally stopping, showing she was dead. "Today, the Mancini legacy dies!"

Angela declared, looking at everyone at the table, and the silence that reigned was broken by her mother's ragged, eerie laugh.

"I'll go... But I'll take one with me," she laughed as her body convulsed before finally stilling, proving she was dead.

My wife glanced at her mother before lifting her face; her frightened eyes shot me a quick look before she slapped my hand, knocking the whiskey glass to the floor.

"No one touches or eats anything!" Angel exclaimed to everyone at the party. "I didn't imagine she could have more poison hidden!"

"We'll sort this out—everyone stay calm. We'll call the doctor, and everything will be resolved," I grabbed her wrist, pulling her to me. "Why didn't you tell me anything, Angel?"

"Because even if you don't love me, I love you enough to kill for you!" she declared, staring deeply into my eyes, making me feel like I'd been punched in the stomach.

But before I could find the words to respond, an agonized scream echoed from inside the mansion, chilling me to my soul.

"Frank!"