Chapter 6

The church doors opened again.

Twelve widows entered in black.

Maria walked to Camilla first.

I had Nico place the real payment trail on the screen.

The money Damian claimed I had stolen had gone into shell accounts he controlled. From there, it paid for a Manhattan apartment, jewelry, a custom gown, and a sports car.

Every final payment led to Camilla.

Maria pointed to the necklace around Camilla's throat.

"That was bought with the money owed to my husband."

Camilla stepped back.

"Damian gave it to me."

"Then give it back."

Maria removed the necklace.

A second widow took the bracelet from Camilla's wrist.

A third took the apartment keys.

A fourth took the keys to the car.

A fifth ordered the staff to remove the formal wedding coat from Camilla's shoulders.

Piece by piece, the image of the new Donna disappeared.

A servant gave Camilla a plain black coat. She stood in front of everyone with nothing left to display.

"Enough." Damian turned to his men. "Get these women out."

No one moved.

"Protect Camilla right now."

No one obeyed.

Alexander finally spoke.

"Everything on her came from money that belonged to the families of dead men."

Damian stared at him.

"You are disobeying me too?"

"I serve the Russo family."

Alexander met his eyes.

"I will not serve a man who used his own soldiers to frame his wife, then spent their widows' money on his mistress."

Maria removed the Russo pin from her dress and dropped it on the floor.

The other eleven widows did the same.

Then the twelve crews once led by their husbands removed their family pins.

Hundreds of men lowered to one knee and faced me.

"From this day forward, we answer to Serena Vitale."

Damian stood alone.

"Get back on your feet."

No one answered.

"I ordered you to stand."

No one moved.

He turned to me.

"Serena, tell them to follow my orders."

I said nothing.

For the first time, fear entered his voice.

"I am your Don."

Alexander looked at him.

"You are not anymore."