Chapter 12 - BIANCA'S CONFESSION
Bianca arrived at Victor Russo's office expecting congratulations.
Instead, she found two men waiting beside the door and her father standing behind his desk with the ledger open in front of him.
"You've been careless," Victor said.
Bianca stiffened.
"What are you talking about?"
"Emma found the storage unit. Dante knows about the hospital records. And someone has been asking questions about Catherine Bell."
Bianca's confidence faltered.
"I didn't know about the hospital."
"You didn't need to know. You only needed to keep Emma occupied."
"I was supposed to become Dante's wife."
Victor laughed.
"You were supposed to help me control his organization."
Bianca stared at him.
"You promised me—"
"I promised you a future. I never promised it would include Dante."
She stepped backward.
Victor opened a drawer and removed a second folder. Inside were photographs of Bianca meeting a private investigator, transferring money, and entering the Romano estate through a side gate.
"You helped arrange the dinner," he said. "You provoked Emma. You knew Dante would react badly."
Bianca's face drained of color.
"I didn't know he'd hit her."
"You knew exactly who he was."
For the first time, Bianca saw the truth. Her father had never intended to place her beside Dante. He wanted the Romano family weakened, the estate divided, and the shipping routes under his control.
She had been a useful distraction.
"Where is Emma?" Victor demanded.
"I don't know."
He slapped the folder onto the desk.
"Find her."
Bianca shook her head.
"No."
The word surprised them both.
Victor's expression hardened.
"Excuse me?"
"I said no. I'm finished doing your work."
He signaled to the men beside the door.
Bianca ran before they could reach her.
She made it to her car, drove three blocks, and called the only person she knew who might listen.
Emma answered after the fourth ring.
"Why are you calling me?"
Bianca swallowed.
"Because your father-in-law's secrets are bigger than either of us understood. And because Victor is planning to take everything Dante owns."
"Why should I believe you?"
"You shouldn't," Bianca admitted. "But I have proof."
"What kind of proof?"
Bianca looked in the rearview mirror. A black sedan had turned onto her street.
"The kind that could get us both killed."
May you like
She gave Emma an address.
Then the line went dead.
