Chapter 8

Vincent still sat in the Russo seat when the Western Family Summit opened.

He told the other families that the financial crisis was a temporary punishment from a jealous former fiancee.

Then the Caruso convoy arrived.

My father did not walk ahead of me. Luca stepped back after we entered the hall.

I approached the Commission table alone.

The senior member announced my name and position.

"Elena Caruso, sole heir to Caruso Atlantic."

Vincent finally understood the size of the power he had dismissed for ten years.

I ended three Russo port agreements in front of the Commission.

Vincent leaned toward me.

"Are you really going to destroy me because our relationship failed?"

"You taught me to keep business separate from emotion. I am following your rule."

Falcone's father rose from his seat.

He announced that Bianca was pregnant with Vincent's child. He demanded that the Commission recognize a Russo and Falcone marriage agreement.

Bianca placed one hand over her stomach and presented a medical report.

Everyone waited for me to react.

I requested an independent test.

The result reached the summit before the session ended.

Bianca was not pregnant. The report belonged to one of her assistants.

She had invented the child to force Vincent into a legal marriage before the Russo group collapsed. She wanted a claim to the remaining assets.

Vincent confronted her in front of the room.

Bianca laughed at him.

"You planned the red room because you believed you controlled Elena. I learned from you."

The Russo and Falcone alliance ended in public.

Falcone's father pointed at me.

"One woman should not be allowed to push two families into ruin."

"You brought your families here by yourselves."

That night, a source inside the Falcone operation warned me about a kidnapping plan at a port warehouse. They wanted to force me to restore the Russo credit line and destroy the red room recording.

Luca wanted to take my place.

"They need the Caruso heir's approval," I said. "You cannot give them that."

"I could stop you from going."

"You could try, but you will not do it."

He watched me for a long moment. Then he placed a tracking device and a folding knife in my hand.

"If the signal drops for ten minutes, I am coming inside."

I kept the warehouse meeting on my schedule.

Before I left, federal agents placed a wire inside my collar.