Page 71 of Corrupting Lily

“Just call me Lily, Matteo.”

I know this won’t happen. I have already asked him a million times to call me by my name, but he ignores my requests.

“No. Because you are Mrs. Sante. The wife of the most powerful man in the world. Head of the Cosa Nostra. His Queen. You understand, right?” he asks me pointedly.

I’m taken aback. Matteo rarely speaks, and when he does, his responses are either yes, no, or grunts. So what he is saying now must be important for him to have taken the time to vocalize it.

“I have seen how Dominico looks at you. He would do anything for you. He loves you. He has never loved anyone before. Never. You know what that means, right?” Another pointed question, accompanied by a direct gaze.

“You belong by his side, and while he is recovering and vulnerable, it is up to you to protect him. You, me, and those loyal to him. You are the strongest woman I know. Many underestimate you, but they don’t understand what you are capable of.”

I nod, his words reminding me of what Dominico has said to me on more than one occasion.

“I understand. I won’t let anything happen to him while I am alive. You have my word,” I promise, conviction and strength infusing my words.

“We have already spoken about this. When I give the signal, you know what to do.” Matteo nods and hands me a small object I have been practicing with for the last week before returning to his position by the door.

Minutes later, Nero returns with Dante, Holly, and Violet—Dante's new wife—in tow. A deal was made with the Mancuso brothers in exchange for my location. Initially, I felt bad that Dante had shouldered the responsibility of the deal, but watching Violet stand close to him and observing how he looked at her made me feel less guilty. There is an undeniable spark between them. Thankfully. However, there is much work needed. Violet had been physically and mentally abused by Johnathan and his men at 'the pharmacy' for weeks. They had done unspeakable things to her, leaving trauma etched into her soul.

“They are at the gate,” Dante advises, his voice strained. The impending confrontation was sure to create turmoil throughout the entirefamiglia.

With a final look at Dominico, I let go of his hand, straighten my shoulders, and head out of the room, with Matteo, Dante, and Nero flanking me while the ladies follow not far behind. A commotion by the front door tells me that my order for our visitors to relinquish their weapons at the gate is not appreciated.

“What the fuck! How dare you take my weapon!” Massimo shouts, his face red with anger as he takes a few steps toward us, prompting our guard's guns to raise in response. Elena is beside him, her eyes darting cautiously around the room.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. The guards are under strict orders. With a nod, you will be shot," Nero advises, his calm voice belying his emotions. He is as angry about the betrayal as I am. As we all are.

“What is the meaning of this? When Dominico wakes, I’m sure he will not be happy to hear this is how you treatfamiglia.” Massimo’s words make me laugh as I stand my ground a few feet away.

“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. Considering it is the veryfamigliaresponsible for his current state that I am treating with such disdain,” I spit out, my words harsh and accusing.

“What are you talking about? You think we were responsible for what happened?” While Elena’s question is coated with believable incredulity, Massimo’s face remains angry and unaffected, the accusations not disturbing him at all.

I take a step forward, Matteo mirroring it as I retrieve the little plastic evidence bag from my pocket and hold it up before throwing it at him. It bounces off his chest, landing on the floor by his feet.

"What is this?" Elena asks, picking up the item as her eyes dart from it to her brother.

Massimo’s eyes widen, flaring as he looks from the object to me and then to the men beside me.

“You know, it took me a while to remember where I had seen thiscrescent. You gave Dominico a box of cigars as an early wedding gift. A box made by your family and bearing the family crescent. The very same one as that,” I accuse, my eyes dipping to the evidence of his betrayal in Elena's hand.

“So? Yes, I gifted it to him.” Massimo is on the defensive, and I can see a hint of panic in his sister's eyes, as if she knows where this is leading.

“I found this one somewhere it shouldn’t have been. In an ashtray at ‘the pharmacy.' I thought it might have been Rocco's doing, but interestingly enough, the DNA evidence returned a different result. Pointing us to someone else.”

Elena’s eyes widen, and then I see the realization sink in as her gaze drifts over to her brother, who is now breathing harder, his hands clenching and unclenching at his side.

“What did you do?” Elena hisses, the accusation in her tone finally drawing her brother's gaze from mine.

“What Rocco couldn’t. It is time for a new head of the Cosa Nostra.” With this admission out in the open, I dip my head, signaling Matteo, who lunges forward, his unexpected action catching Massimo off guard. Before Massimo knows what has happened, Matteo is behind him, his arm around his neck, cutting off circulation.

Elena stumbles back, surprised by what is happening.

“Hold his legs and arms,” I order the guards standing nearby as I approach the man who is looking at me as if he wants to kill me.

Nero and Dante remain close as I fish out the other object, the knife with my name engraved on it. Johnathan’s knife. The one he had used on me so many times, my blood must be infused in its blade. What better object to use to extract my revenge?

“You fucking bitch!” Massimo spits, his face contorting as he struggles against the humans locking him in place.

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