The Contract I Tore

Chapter 3 Blind Arrogance

Gabriel put a file from my legal team on the glass table. Inside were two years of forged signatures and old Valerian proxy seals.

Marcello had used both to move military-grade weapons through neutral shipping lanes under my name.

My forged name sat at the bottom of every deal. I signed the authorization for our legal counterattack.

The next screen showed a live feed from our private investigator at the Veridian Equestrian Club.

Camilla stood at the center of the Commission wives, accepting their attention like a Donna. Enzo and Bianca clung to her silk skirt.

Bianca pointed at another child. "That's not my mother anymore. Camilla is our real mother now."

Enzo took the insulated lunchbox I had packed that morning and emptied it into a trash can. "Mama's food is for babies. Camilla buys us whatever we want."

A stallion shied in the nearby paddock. Enzo had wandered too close. He froze while the horse struck the ground inches from his head.

My palm was already over my mouth.

Camilla backed away. She looked at the Commission wife beside her and frowned at the interruption.

"Should I dispatch a team, Ma'am?" Gabriel asked.

Enzo's face filled the screen. So did Marcello's hand on the safe room lock.

"No. They are his children. Let his woman handle it."

Camilla took out her phone, turned toward the light, and used the paddock as the background for a selfie.

The caption read: *"Another thrilling day! Marcello is about to close the biggest logistics deal on the East Coast! So proud of my man! #PowerCouple"*

She tagged the club.

A notification appeared on Gabriel's tablet: *Dante's network has scraped this post.*

Dante had waited years for one of Marcello's mistakes. Camilla's post gave his most vicious rival the club, the deal, and her location.

My phone buzzed with another message.

*"The Don is furious. He's sending a team to your location. Orders: bring you to the financial hearing tomorrow by any means necessary."*

The next line read: *"He intends to name you as the sole operator of the offshore accounts."*

Every account would carry my name. He had made the same choice before my death.

I buttoned my jacket and stood.

"Let's go, Gabriel. He wants me at the hearing. I won't keep him waiting."