Chapter 7 - THE MISTRESS'S PRICE
Bianca Russo had never intended to spend her life as someone's secret.
She had grown up in a family that measured success by the number of people willing to fear you. Her father had taught her that affection was a weakness and loyalty was a currency. When she met Dante, she recognized a man who understood those rules.
She had also recognized his greatest weakness.
Emma.
For four years, Dante had spoken about his wife with a softness he never used for anyone else. He had defended her against his own men. He had canceled meetings because she was sick. He had once threatened a business associate for making a cruel remark about her inability to have children after the miscarriage.
Bianca had hated Emma long before she became Dante's mistress.
The affair had been easy to arrange. Dante was lonely, increasingly suspicious of his organization, and furious that Emma had begun asking questions about his father's old business records.
Bianca had offered comfort.
Then she had offered information.
Her father, Victor Russo, had promised that if Emma were removed from the picture, Bianca would become the recognized woman beside Dante. Together, the two families would control several profitable shipping routes.
But Bianca had underestimated the pregnancy.
She had also underestimated the folder.
That afternoon, Victor called her into his private office.
"Has Romano found his wife?"
"No."
"Then why haven't you secured the documents?"
Bianca frowned.
"What documents?"
Victor's expression darkened.
"Don't insult me. The Hayes girl found something."
Bianca felt cold.
"Emma doesn't know anything important."
"Her father died because he knew too much. If she has the ledger, everything we built can collapse."
Bianca stood.
"You told me Emma was only an obstacle in Dante's marriage."
"She is an obstacle to all of us."
Victor opened a drawer and removed a photograph.
It showed Emma's father standing outside a warehouse beside a younger Dante Romano.
On the back, someone had written a date.
The night Michael Hayes died.
Bianca stared at it.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you weren't supposed to fall in love with a man whose wife was carrying his heir."
"I'm not in love with Dante."
Victor smiled without warmth.
"Then prove it. Find Emma before he does."
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When Bianca left the office, she took the photograph with her.
For the first time, she wondered whether she had chosen the wrong enemy.
