Chapter 2 - The Mafia Boss Accused His Pregnant Wife of Betraying Him—Until His Mistress’s Secret Payments Revealed Who Had Been Planning the Christmas Eve MassacreAngelo looked at Talia as though he were seeing her for the first time.
It was an expression she recognized.
He had worn it when she told him she was pregnant after their first miscarriage.
He had worn it when she admitted she was afraid of the life they lived.
And he had worn it the night she asked him whether he was having an affair.
But this time, there was something else.
Suspicion.
Talia felt it settle between them like a wall.
"Say it," she whispered.
Angelo's jaw tightened.
"Talia—"
"Whatever you're thinking, say it."
Rocco watched silently.
Sofia closed her laptop.
Angelo took a breath.
"Matteo knew you invited Rocco."
"Apparently."
"How?"
"I don't know."
"Did you tell anyone else?"
"My attorney."
"Anyone?"
"No."
Angelo stared.
Talia laughed once.
A short, humorless sound.
"That's what you're worried about?"
His expression hardened.
"Someone is trying to kill us."
"Yes."
"And I need to know who has information."
"So do I."
He looked toward Rocco.
"You brought him into my home."
"To save your life."
"You don't know that."
Talia went still.
The words hurt more than she expected.
She looked at her husband.
"You're right."
Angelo blinked.
She continued.
"I don't know that Rocco is trustworthy. I don't know that Derek is innocent. I don't know whether Matteo is acting alone."
Her voice trembled.
"But I know I spent three days trying to keep you alive while you spent five months making me feel like a stranger in my own marriage."
Angelo looked away.
Talia stepped closer.
"And now, when someone tells you to doubt me, you do."
Silence.
Rocco finally spoke.
"Angelo."
Angelo turned sharply.
"Not now."
Rocco's expression remained calm.
"Your wife is correct."
Angelo stared.
Rocco continued.
"If she intended to betray you, she would not have brought me here."
"Why?"
"Because my presence complicates the plan."
Angelo frowned.
Rocco gestured toward the documents.
"The assassination was designed to implicate my family. If I am standing beside you when the attack begins, the story becomes harder to sell."
Sofia nodded.
"He's right."
Talia looked at Angelo.
"Matteo wanted you to turn against me."
Angelo closed his eyes.
For a moment, he looked exhausted.
Then he nodded.
"You're right."
Talia swallowed.
It wasn't enough.
Not yet.
But it was a beginning.
Angelo turned toward the door.
"We need to find Vivian."
Talia's expression hardened.
"Now you want to talk to her?"
He looked back.
"Her company received the payment."
"From Matteo."
"Yes."
"And you didn't know?"
Angelo hesitated.
"No."
Talia stared.
"Interesting."
He flinched.
She continued.
"You trusted her with the restructuring. You brought her into our home. You let her stand beside you in front of everyone."
Her voice broke.
"But you never asked where the money came from."
Angelo looked down.
"Talia."
She shook her head.
"Don't."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Rocco cleared his throat.
"Perhaps we can save the marriage discussion until after the assassination attempt."
Talia turned.
Despite everything, she almost laughed.
Rocco's expression remained perfectly serious.
"I have attended many unpleasant Christmas dinners. This one is becoming exceptional."
Angelo exhaled.
"Fine."
Sofia opened a secure communication channel.
She contacted Rocco's escort.
A moment later, his voice came through.
"Sir."
"Status?"
"Guests are moving toward the west ballroom. Security is directing them."
"Any sign of the man from the SUV?"
"Negative."
Rocco frowned.
"Continue observing. Do not engage unless necessary."
The escort acknowledged.
Angelo turned to Talia.
"Stay here."
She stared.
"No."
"Talia."
"I'm not being locked in a room while everyone else decides what happens."
"You're pregnant."
"I noticed."
His jaw tightened.
"You're carrying our daughter."
"And you are not the only parent capable of making decisions."
Angelo opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Rocco looked faintly amused.
"She's formidable."
Angelo glared.
"I know."
Talia folded her arms.
"Then act like it."
They moved together toward the west corridor.
The mansion had changed.
Twenty minutes earlier, it had been filled with music and laughter.
Now the atmosphere felt strained.
Guests whispered.
Waiters moved quickly.
Security guards stood at unusual intervals.
The orchestra had stopped playing.
Talia noticed Vivian near the staircase.
She was speaking into her phone.
Her expression was tight.
When she saw Angelo, she ended the call.
"What's happening?"
Angelo stopped.
"We need to talk."
Vivian looked at Talia.
Then Rocco.
Her face changed.
"About what?"
Angelo's voice hardened.
"Matteo."
Vivian went pale.
For one second, she looked genuinely frightened.
Then she recovered.
"I don't know what you mean."
Angelo stared.
"Your company received two million dollars from one of his businesses."
Vivian swallowed.
"That was a consulting fee."
"For what?"
"The restructuring."
"Why didn't it come from Orsini Holdings?"
She hesitated.
"Matteo said he was coordinating the announcement."
Angelo's expression darkened.
"You never told me."
Vivian looked away.
Talia watched her carefully.
There was guilt.
But also fear.
The kind that came from knowing something dangerous.
Angelo stepped closer.
"Vivian."
She looked at him.
"Tell me the truth."
Her lips trembled.
"I can't."
Silence.
Talia felt a chill.
"Why?"
Vivian looked toward the east corridor.
Then whispered:
"Because if I do, he'll kill my sister."
Everyone went still.
Angelo stared.
"What?"
Vivian's eyes filled.
"Matteo has my sister."
Talia felt her anger shift.
Not disappear.
But change.
Vivian continued.
"He took her two days ago."
Angelo's expression hardened.
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Vivian laughed bitterly.
"Because he said if I told you, she'd die."
Talia watched Angelo.
He looked stunned.
Vivian wiped her cheeks.
"I thought he wanted money. Then he told me to move the press room."
Angelo went still.
"What?"
She nodded.
"He said it was necessary for the announcement."
Talia's stomach tightened.
"And you did it."
Vivian began crying.
"Yes."
Angelo stared.
"You knew there was a threat?"
"Not at first."
"When did you know?"
Vivian looked down.
"Yesterday."
Silence.
Talia felt cold.
"Yesterday?"
Vivian nodded.
"He sent me a photograph of my sister tied to a chair. Then he told me to make sure you were in the east wing at eleven."
Angelo's jaw tightened.
"And you came here anyway."
Vivian looked at him.
"I didn't know what else to do."
Talia stared.
For months, she had imagined confronting Vivian.
She had imagined anger.
Humiliation.
The satisfaction of seeing the woman who had helped destroy her marriage finally lose her composure.
But now Vivian stood trembling in a hallway while a murderer held her sister hostage.
Talia felt no satisfaction.
Only exhaustion.
She looked at Angelo.
"We need to get her sister."
Angelo stared.
"Talia—"
"Whatever happened between the three of us doesn't change that."
Vivian began crying harder.
Rocco nodded.
"Your wife is right."
Angelo looked at Vivian.
"What's your sister's name?"
"Claire."
"Age?"
"Thirty-one."
"Where was she taken?"
"Outside her apartment in Hoboken."
Sofia began taking notes.
Vivian looked at Talia.
For the first time, her expression held something like shame.
"I'm sorry."
Talia stared.
Vivian swallowed.
"For everything."
Talia looked away.
"Not now."
Vivian nodded.
"I understand."
Talia turned back.
"Did Matteo tell you anything else?"
Vivian hesitated.
Then nodded.
"He said the family would be safer once Angelo was gone."
Angelo's face hardened.
"And?"
Vivian looked at him.
"He said the baby would make the transition easier."
Talia went completely still.
"What?"
Vivian began crying again.
"He said people would accept a new leader if they believed he was protecting Angelo's widow and child."
Silence.
Talia felt her daughter move.
She placed both hands over her stomach.
Matteo wasn't planning only to kill Angelo.
He was planning to use Talia and her unborn daughter as symbols.
A grieving widow.
An innocent child.
A family tragedy that would justify his rise.
Angelo's voice became deadly quiet.
"He planned to keep them alive."
Vivian nodded.
"Yes."
Rocco looked toward the east wing.
"Until they became inconvenient."
Talia closed her eyes.
The realization was unbearable.
She looked at Angelo.
For the first time that night, he looked truly afraid.
Not for himself.
For her.
For their daughter.
He stepped closer.
"Talia."
She shook her head.
"Don't promise me nothing will happen."
He stopped.
She looked into his eyes.
"Promise me you'll stop pretending you can control everything."
Angelo swallowed.
Then nodded.
"I promise."
A sudden crash echoed from the east corridor.
Everyone turned.
A security guard shouted.
Then the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
The chandelier above them went dark.
Emergency lighting washed the hallway in pale red.
Vivian screamed.
Angelo moved instinctively toward Talia.
Rocco's escort appeared at the far end of the corridor.
"Sir! We have an intruder!"
A second crash followed.
Then a man's voice shouted:
"Nobody move!"
Talia felt Angelo's arm around her.
He pulled her behind a marble column.
The sound of running footsteps filled the corridor.
Rocco's escort raised his weapon.
But before anyone could act, a woman appeared from the service entrance.
She wore a catering uniform.
Her hands were raised.
"Please!"
Her voice cracked.
"Please don't shoot!"
Angelo's security team froze.
The woman stumbled forward.
Blood stained her sleeve.
She looked directly at Vivian.
"Claire?"
Vivian screamed.
"Claire!"
She rushed toward her sister.
But Claire shook her head violently.
"No!"
Everyone stopped.
Claire looked toward the dark corridor behind her.
Tears streamed down her face.
"He made me come here."
Angelo stared.
"Who?"
Claire's voice broke.
"Matteo."
Rocco stepped forward.
"Where is he?"
Claire looked at Talia.
Then whispered:
"He's not coming."
Silence.
Angelo frowned.
"What?"
Claire began shaking.
"He said the attack already started."
Talia felt her heart stop.
Claire looked toward the ballroom.
Then whispered:
May you like
"You're all waiting for the wrong thing."
And somewhere inside the mansion, the fire alarm began to scream.
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