In the seventh year of our reign, my grandmother, the Madre of the Moretti family, died in my arms.
Her last words were a warning.
"Freya, you're a fool to trust that man."
"Malachi has a mistress. And she's standing right in front of you.
“Open your eyes."
After the funeral, I did.
Three women stood before me.
My best friend, Evelina.
A girl our family sponsored, Lucia.
And Malachi’s most trusted assistant, Jessalyn.
One of them was sleeping with my husband. I was about to find out which one.
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1
A collective sigh of relief filled the room as I walked in.
My best friend, Evelina, spoke first.
“Freya, you have got to get a handle on that psycho.” she said, shaking her head.
“Your husband called me at two in the morning, ranting about how you were so devastated you were on the verge of collapse.”
“If I hadn't talked him down, he would've torn Brooklyn apart looking for you.”
Warmth spread through my chest.
He always felt my pain more than I did. Whenever I was hurt, Malachi reacted as if the wounds were his own, only magnified a thousand times over.
My grandmother’s death had shattered me, and it was Malachi who’d finally forced me to rest by spiking my whiskey with a sleeping pill.
He’d flown to Chicago for an emergency this morning. He must have been worried sick, which explained why he’d asked them to keep me company.
“She’s not kidding,” Jessalyn chimed in.“The whole family knows how worried the Don is about you.”
“Even after seven years, he still can’t stand to be apart from you. It’s like you’re still teenagers in love. Enough to make anyone jealous.”
Her tone was the familiar blend of respect and playful teasing I’d come to know.
My eyes fell on her, a flicker of doubt clouding my mind.
Jessalyn was a few years older than us, her husband one of Malachi’s most loyal Capos.
Not only did she have a happy family life, but she was also sharp and incredibly capable, managing all of our family’s legitimate businesses.
She had served the Moretti family for years.
In my heart, I had always seen her as the dependable older sister I never had.
If someone suggested there was something between her and Malachi, I’d be the first to call them a liar.
A maid brought me a steaming espresso, her voice hushed with reverence.
“The Don’s love for you is absolute, Donna Freya.”
I studied Evelina’s expression. She seemed completely at ease, not a trace of jealousy in her eyes.
Seeing me pick up the coffee, Lucia timidly offered a bouquet of white roses.
The moment I looked at her, she dropped her head, avoiding my gaze.
She spoke in a low, anxious voice.
“Donna Freya, I… I was praying for you at church and I got these.”
“I hope they can bring you a moment of peace.”
My heart softened. “Lucia, thank you,” I said immediately.
“Your kindness means more than you know.”
As I spoke, my gaze lingered on her.
She kept her head down, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her worn dress.
Her coat was washed so pale it was nearly white, the cuffs frayed.
Though only in her early twenties, she was dressed more shabbily than the lowest-ranking maid in our household.
I softened my tone, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
“To thank you for the flowers, I’ll have the family doctor give your mother a full check-up this afternoon. We’ll arrange the best treatment for her.”
Lucia’s head shot up, her cheeks flushing.
“Donna Freya, you don’t have to. My mother, she…”
I smiled and patted her hand.
“Don’t be a stranger, silly girl. You’re under Moretti protection, which makes your family my family. We have a reputation to uphold. Can’t have people thinking the Moretti family doesn’t take care of its own.”
Lucia’s lips trembled, her eyes shimmering with tears as she managed a small nod.
Evelina let out a yawn beside me. “Alright then, Freya,” she said with a grin. “If you’re helping Lucia, you have to reward me, too. Malachi promised me that new casino in Queens to make up for my lost sleep these past few days.”
Her tone was light, but I knew she was only half-joking.
I played along with a smile.
“Of course. The casino is yours.”
I let my gaze drift over them one last time.
These were the people I was closest to, the ones I trusted most.
Evelina, my ride-or-die. Lucia, the girl under our family’s protection. Jessalyn, our capable and loyal aide.
They had witnessed the thirteen years of blood and fire Malachi and I had endured together.
But an inexplicable weight settled in my heart.
I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to doubt any of them.
But Mamma’s words slithered through my mind. The viper was one of them.
