Page 130 of Secrets of the Brother
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Claudia waltzedinto the villa like a queen surveying her subjects. She gave Bianca a scathing once-over and announced, “That rag you are wearing is not flattering.”
I took a step forward. It wasn’t hard to see where Renata had learned her craft.
Not to mention it wasn’t the least bit true.
Bianca laid a restraining hand on my chest and shook her head slightly. With a calm smile and in a resigned voice, she responded, “Nice to see you as well,Mother.”
The woman bristled.
Bruno Moretti grabbed her by the elbow and ushered her into the dining room. He checked his watch and looked at the door. He then mopped his forehead. “Let’s get this over with. I’m a busy man.”
After most of those who wanted something got a coffee and brioche, we took our seats.
Liliana tapped Bianca on the shoulder. “Here you go, Bianca,” she offered as she slid a caffe in front of Bianca, who was already seated. “Two sugars and no cream, right? I remembered.”
Bianca looked up at her. “Oh, this was sweet of you. Yes, thank you, Liliana.”
I placed a hand over Bianca’s and squeezed hers to reassure her. I knew she was nervous. This would be over soon. I nodded to Liliana. “That will be all, Liliana. Thank you. You can head back to the office. We’ll clean up.”
She looked around the table anxiously before nodding. “Of course.” After another glance around the table, she left.
Papà folded his hands before him. “There’s no point in wasting time. As you said, Bruno, we’re all busy. We know you are laundering money for the Agnello crime family.”
Claudia stopped with an unlit cigarette raised halfway to her lips. “How dare you!”
Bruno stood, his mouth opening and closing several times as his flushed, bloated face turned a mottled purple.
I was unimpressed. “Sit the fuck down.”
Bruno looked to the door and checked his watch before mopping his brow and sitting.
Claudia straightened her shoulders. “Are you going to let them speak to your parents this way, Bianca?”
Bianca shrugged. “You’re the one who insisted on a relationship with the Cavalieris,Mother, for the benefit of the family.”
Claudia’s upper lip curled. “Drink your caffe before it gets cold.”
As if reminded it was in front of her, Bianca reached for her cup and took several sips.
Papà continued. “It’s over, Bruno. How well you survive the coming storm is up to you. You can cooperate and tell us what we want to know, in which case I will let you crawl away with a modicum of dignity and enough to survive on.”
Bruno wiped his handkerchief across his mouth. “And if I don’t?”
Cesare smiled. “Well, and I have to be honest, this is my personal favorite out of the options,we crush you. We take your fortune, your reputation, and you leave Italy.”
Claudia blew out a cloud of blue smoke as she faced off with me. “Why are you doing this? We are your mother- and father-in-law. We just lost our daughter!”
“It’s your own fault you lost your daughter. What happened? Did Renata push Nevio too far? Did she ask for a bigger cut to launder the money? Did she threaten to expose him as the third man we were looking for in Milana’s attack unless he paid her more?”
Bruno and Claudia flinched at the name Nevio. They then both looked at the doorway.
I stood and pounded my fist on the table. “Don’t look at the door. You’re not leaving until we get some answers. I want to know how we find Nevio. What’s the matter? Am I hitting too close to the truth? You knew all along that piece of shit was responsible for killing Renata and yet you let him put his bloodstained hands on Bianca?”
I knew the first rule in any enemy engagement was never to show emotion, it gave them the upper hand, but god fucking dammit. How could they have allowed that man in the same room with Bianca, let alone force her on a date with him? Force her to consider marrying him? A fucking murderer. They were her parents. They were supposed to protect her from monsters like Nevio, not offer her up like she was worth nothing to them.
Fuck, I needed to rein it in for Bianca.
