Chapter 5

Pierre watched her go, then turned to me, a lingering nasal edge in his voice. "Sis... what do we do about her going to Seth?"

"Let her." I sat back down on the sofa and crossed my legs. "I'd love to see what stories she can spin in front of Seth."

"Sis." His voice dropped. "Was I... really that stupid?"

"Yes." I didn't mince words. "She played you for three years, and you were still helping her do it. Is that Oscar of yours only good for propping up furniture?"

Pierre hung his head, ears flushed bright red, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward.

He raised his head and looked at me, that familiar dependence in his eyes. "Elizabeth is going to turn the whole story on its head when she talks to Seth."

Nick came and sat on my other side. One brother on each side, like two silent towers.

"Sis." Nick's voice was low. "Seth... he might not listen to our explanation."

"Won't listen?" I watched the sky darkening outside the window, a cold smile curling my lips. "Then I'll beat him until he does!"

The three of us had dinner together in high spirits, with Nick and Pierre taking turns telling me about everything that had happened over the years.

The more I heard, the more alarmed I became.

Elizabeth had her hands in so many of the Family's businesses. This was not just about greed.

On one hand, she had subtly manipulated all three brothers into treating the Reese family as the enemy, even implying that my car accident was connected to them.

On the other hand, openly and behind the scenes, she had been paving the way for the Lockwoods and helping them infiltrate our inner circle.

It was deeply suspicious.

I was still turning it over in my mind when I heard the rumble of a motorcade outside the front door.

The door swung open, and the current Don of the Costa Family, my own brother Seth Costa, strode in with a glacial expression.

"I hear you two have been taken in by some woman who's had plastic surgery." His gaze swept over me as if he were sizing up a corpse.

"You dare impersonate my dead sister?" Every fiber of his being radiated fury. "You must have a death wish!"

Before he finished speaking, I was already in front of him. I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. Twice.

"Seth Costa, I have a question for you. Is this what you call protecting your brothers while I've been gone?!"

Seth stood frozen in place.