The Donna's Last Confession

Chapter 2 The Innocent Angel

The federal transit center smelled of old coffee. A television flickered inside a cage high on the wall. Elena Romano filled the screen.

She stood in front of St. Jude’s Orphanage, where Matron Maria had raised me. One tear made its way down Elena’s cheek as she accepted an award for “Charity Angel of the Year.”

“I’m just a vessel,” she whispered to the reporter. “This award truly belongs to the children.”

Three years earlier, Elena had studied my financial models for the foundation: clean ledgers and transparent funnels that sent every dollar where it belonged.

“So simple, so clean,” she’d said. A week later, she copied the work, called it the “Romano Method,” and presented it to Riccardo.

Now she was accepting praise for my system.

The Moretti emerald brooch was pinned to her white coat. The old piece was reserved for the Donna, the Don’s wife. Riccardo had given her mine.

My study at the penthouse held the books I loved and the desk where I ran the Moretti accounts. Last week, Elena had posted a picture from that desk on i********:: *My new sanctuary*.

The other wives had all told me to be generous. “Men like Riccardo need diversions, Serena. As long as you are the Donna, you must look the other way.”

Riccardo had called me jealous, petty. “Elena’s work benefits the family. Why can’t you see that?”

They had all lectured me on my place. None of them could have named one of the offshore corporations that cleaned their money. I had built every one.

On the screen, Elena pressed a hand to her heart. Riccardo had given her the brooch and the room. The accounts were another matter.

Her voice wavered through the speaker. “I’m just so grateful to Riccardo. He’s my shield against the storm.”

I looked down at my empty cuff. She could keep the line. Alex had the drive.