Page 163 of Malicious Claim

Five years? Five years since he lost the woman he loved, the child he adored. Five years since he burned whatever part of him was ever able to be tender and became the man that he now was. I took a slow sip of my juice, concealing the racing of my heart.

"Did you know them?" I inquired softly now. "His wife and child? You said that they were residing in Greece."

Something flickered on Estele's face—pain, possibly, or sorrow. "I was not part of the inner household," she answered warily.

Liar.

I glared at her, recalling something about the period when the Don had promoted her. The Don had said that she knew things most didn't. If this was so, then why was she playing as if she did not now?

I tilted forward slightly, resting my elbow on the tray. "But when the Don promoted you, he told you that you had knowledge most didn't. So for you to say you weren't part of the inner household..." I let the words hang in the air, watching her reaction.

Estele inhaled sharply, her side eyed glances seeming to calculate her options. Then, softly sighing, she surrendered. "Argh, okay, you win. I knew them well enough."

I set my fork down completely now, all focus on her. "Enough to tell me what they were like?"

She hesitated again, and this time her eyes grew soft as she gazed toward the floor, as if she were seeing something only she could see. "His wife. She was gentle. Quiet but with an edge. Shewasn't born into this life. She was different. She was a softness he clung to."

Something tightened in my chest at that.A softness he clung to.

"She despised violence," Estele continued, now speaking softly. "And... and..."

"And what, Estele?" My voice was more forceful than I meant it to be.

Estele slowly exhaled before finally replying. "And she always stood up for the staff. She pleaded for us when we incurred Makros' anger."

I stiffened. "And he listened to her?"

Estele nodded. "Of course, senora. Makros had tremendous respect for his wife. She was, at the time, his sole weakness."

At the time?What was Estele suggestingat the time?

I swallowed, trying to sound steady. "What do you mean?"

Estele massaged her cheeks with her hands. "Well, now there is you. Makros' wife had been perfect for him. But he had a single complaint about her."

Now, where are you?Did she think I was his weakness? Such flattery!

My heartbeat was on a steady rise with each secret Estele revealed. "What complaint?"

Estele's lips shaped into a pout. "Well, we all knew that she was too kind for her own good. Makros thought so too."

I should have let it be. Should have stopped asking, stopped digging. But something in me, something bitter and jealous, could not leave it be.

"And when she died?"

Estele's face dropped just slightly, a sheen of unshed tears filming her eyes. "He blamed himself for her death," she whispered. "And then he blamed her for being weak."

Something sharp and awful turned inside me.

Estele blinked a few times, fighting her emotions, then sniffed, offering me an apologetic look. "Sorry, señora. Talking about her stirs up bitter feelings." She swallowed noticeably. "She was more than a boss to me. We were true friends. And to this day, I still despise her killer."

I winced at her words and the action shook the balance of the tray. Part of the juice spilled.

"Right," I muttered, forcing myself to breathe. "I'm sure you would."

I picked up my glass, taking a sip just to buy myself a moment. My brain was spinning while questions ripped through my head, but I shoved them aside.

Instead, I cleared my throat and changed the subject. "What about his kid?" I asked, aiming for casualness, but the words weighed on my tongue.

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