Chapter 3

By the second month of our marriage, Adrian had started reaching for the assets my mother left me.

Eight commercial properties across the city and an investment firm. All of it had been hers.

His excuse sounded perfectly reasonable.

“These businesses and accounts are a lot to deal with. Let me handle them. It'll save you the hassle.”

Martin Russo, who had managed my mother's finances for more than twenty years, came to see me.

“Miss Valenti, Mr. Bellini says he'll be handling all the revenue from now on.”

I lowered my eyes. “Let him.”

Martin left with his head down, sweat beading across his forehead.

Nora finally couldn't take it anymore.

“Alessandra! He's gone too far! What are you still putting up with this for?”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I've been with you for ten years! He's bleeding your mother's assets dry, and Lily keeps walking all over you! Why won't you fight back?”

“Even if you won't do it for yourself, think about your mother!”

“She asked you to put down the gun. She didn't ask you to let people treat you like a doormat!”

She started crying, her shoulders shaking.

I took her hand.

“Before she died, my mother asked me to put down the gun and live a good life.”

My voice was soft. “I'm trying.”

“But they're walking all over you.”

I looked at Nora without answering.

Three days later, Luca brought me his first report.

Adrian had diverted forty percent of this month's revenue.

The money had gone into Bellini-controlled companies.

There was another transfer, though.

A strange one. It had gone to a man named Daniel Reed.

Daniel Reed. Who was he?

That same afternoon, Don Bellini unexpectedly came to see me.

The Don of the Bellini family came in alone, leaving his consigliere and bodyguards outside the Valenti gates.

“Miss Valenti.”

His voice was tight, like a wire pulled taut.

“Sit,” I said.

He didn't.

He simply stood in front of me, his hands clasped tightly together.

“I've heard some things about Adrian's behavior at the estate lately. He's young. He doesn't always know better. If he's offended you in any way—”

“Don Bellini.” I cut him off.

“You're fifty-three this year, aren't you?”

“Yes.”

“Then you remember what happened ten years ago.”

“You remember what I did at thirteen.”

“And what I did at fifteen.”

His expression changed.

“You didn't come here to apologize for Adrian.”

I picked up my coffee.

“You know exactly what your son and that so-called little sister of his have been doing.”

“You can't stop him, so you came here to see how far I'll let him go.”

Don Bellini went pale.

“Miss Valenti, that wasn't my intention. I only—”

“You're afraid.” I finished the sentence for him.

He stood there without meeting my eyes, sweat slowly gathering on his forehead.

“Don Bellini, you should be.”

I stood and walked toward him.

“Go home and tell your son to rein himself in.”

“My patience has limits.”

He stumbled out of the estate.

Nora stepped out from the side of the room.

“Will he tell Adrian?”

“Yes.”

“Will Adrian listen?”

“No.”

Nora froze.

“A man who doesn't even respect his own father isn't going to start listening to him now.”

“Then why warn him?”

I opened the ledger in front of me, my voice perfectly calm.

“I want Don Bellini to know that I warned Adrian.”

“So when the time comes to settle the score, no one can say I didn't give the Bellinis a chance.”

A shiver ran through Nora.