Chapter 4

I was right.

Adrian hadn't listened to a single word Don Bellini said.

To him, the Alessandra Valenti who'd picked up a gun at thirteen was ancient history.

The woman standing in front of him now—the one who'd had wine dumped all over her and simply said she'd let it go—was nothing to be afraid of.

So instead of backing down, Lily only got bolder.

First, she took my armored SUV without permission and berated my driver until he couldn't even look her in the eye.

Then she took the master keys from Mrs. Romano, who had served my mother for over twenty years, and sent her off to do laundry.

I said nothing.

So Lily became even more brazen.

That afternoon, I was signing paperwork in the study.

A scream suddenly came from the courtyard.

It was Nora.

My pen stopped.

Ink spread into a dark blot across the page.

I set it down and walked outside.

Nora was pinned facedown across the hood of my armored SUV, one Bellini bodyguard pressing a gun to her temple while another whipped her with a leather belt.

Five or six angry welts already striped her back.

Two of them were bleeding.

Lily stood nearby, her cheeks flushed.

“I told you to give me the armored SUV and security, and you refused! Who the hell do you think you are? You're just an assistant!”

The belt came down again.

Nora gritted her teeth and didn't make a sound.

But her whole body was trembling.

Lily bent down beside her and smiled.

“Go on. Why aren't you screaming? Aren't you Alessandra's precious little assistant? Call her. Tell her to come save you.”

“Oh, right. She won't.”

“She didn't even say a word when I dumped wine all over her. You really think she's going to save you?”

The belt rose again.

“Enough.”

Lily turned.

When she saw me standing there, she froze for a second. Then her smile widened.

“Alessandra, you're here? Your assistant has no manners, so I'm teaching her some.”

I didn't look at her.

I walked over to Nora and crouched beside her.

Her cheek was pressed against the bench as she turned to look at me.

She had bitten her lip bloody.

Her eyes were red, but she hadn't cried.

She only said my name.

“Alessandra.”

Her voice was barely more than a rasp.

I reached out and tucked the loose hair behind her ear.

Then I saw the wounds on her back.

Seven. Every one of them was swollen.

The deepest had split the skin open.

I touched the edge of the wound with my fingertips.

Nora's body jerked.

I pulled my hand back.

There was blood on my fingers.

I stood and looked at Lily.

“Who gave you the nerve?”

Lily shrugged.

“She had an attitude. So I had my men teach her a lesson. What's the big deal?”

“That's not what I asked.”

I cut her off.

“Who gave you the authority?”

“I don't need anyone to give it to me.”

She planted her hands on her hips and lifted her chin again.

“Adrian said I can use anything on this estate, and everyone here has to cooperate with me.”

“Don't believe me? Go ask him.”

I looked down at Nora's blood on my fingertips.

Ten years.

Mother, I listened to you for ten years.

I don't want to anymore.