"As a reward, how about your husband brings you a big surprise today?"
"Sure. I'll be waiting at home."
To keep me from going after Bianca, he'd stop at nothing.
This con, three years in the making, was overdue to end.
The moment his car pulled out of the gates, I went straight to bury my old name. New identity papers, a clean passport that no soldier in the Family could trace.
After signing the forms under a borrowed surname, I went to see a consigliere.
When I asked about that written pardon, he only said a blood relative's absolution carried the same weight under the old code as the one who'd shed the blood.
It was already binding. It couldn't be undone.
I didn't press further. I just had him draw up two copies of the dissolution of the alliance.
Papers in my bag, I went to the Falcone offices, the legitimate front where the laundered cash wore a clean suit.
The instant I crossed the marble lobby, I caught the associates whispering.
"That's the Don's wife, isn't it? Word is she just came back from across the water. With grace like that, no wonder she's got Don Falcone wrapped around her finger. Even I can't look away, and I'm a woman."
"Has to be. That bag she's carrying is the new Hermès, ten in the whole world. I've gone up to his floor a few times and seen the Don picking them out himself. Bought her that one too. So devoted."
"That hotel he keeps overseas wasn't put up just for her, was it? They say they grew up together besides. Not even a film would dare go that far."
Up on the top floor, I stood outside his door. A familiar voice drifted through it.
"These three years… were you all right?"
"Mm, I've been wonderful. Every morning I open my eyes to the ocean, and the air smells like freedom. I never even thanked you. If it weren't for you, I'd already be—"
"Don't bring that up. It's all in the past. I know you didn't mean to hurt anyone. Helping you was helping myself too."
Bianca laughed, swaying with delight. Her smile came a half-second late, the way it always did, as if she had to remember to wear it.
"You. After all these years, you haven't changed at all. If Adriana found out you'd been helping me behind her back, she'd raise the roof."
"This bag's far too dear. I can't take it. Give it to Adriana instead. I'm afraid if I keep it, she'll only drag me before another sit-down."
That was always Bianca. She took every advantage for herself.
Then played the gracious one, pardoning me, and pinning every sin on my name.
The arranged union, three years ago.
I'd named her a killer in front of every guest, severed ties with her and Don Salvatore Mancini for good.
Yet every made man and wife in that room had sided with her, scolding me for not knowing my place at the table.
I became the laughingstock of the room.
Lorenzo walking in had been my only salvation.
But now, he was the very one who'd pushed me into the abyss.
Marco, hurrying up with a pact to be signed, reached me and threw the door wide before I could turn away.
Surprise flickered through Lorenzo's eyes.
"Adriana? When did you get here? Don't read into it. Bianca just got back. We were only catching up, nothing else."
"Adriana. Long time no see."
Bianca rose, draped in the latest couture from a Falcone-owned house.
Cheeks flushed, skin smooth and fine.
By no stretch did she look like a woman who'd been one breath from the vendetta's blade.
I smiled and nodded, swallowing the hurt as I spoke. Under the table's edge, my thumb turned the thin gold band on my finger in a slow circle.
"It's fine. I was out and stopped by to see you. Since you're busy, I'll head home."
Lorenzo thought I was angry. He came after me into the corridor, explaining for far too long.
"Don't be like this. I only wanted to know how she'd held up in there. She's a girl, after all. It couldn't have been easy where she was."
"It's been three years. Surely any grudge can be let go by now? Didn't you say it was all in the past?"
Watching him fret, I only smiled.
To pull Bianca out from under the blade, he'd sacrificed his own marriage to play a part with me.
Now that Bianca was safe and unmarked, who was the act still for?
"Mm. It's in the past. Don't worry. I'm not someone who doesn't know better. I keep my word."
