The Don's Pregnant Wife Ran to His Enemy novel · Chapter 22 of 24

Chapter 22: Her Father's Seat

My father's chair had a worn place on the left arm.

I had seen it a hundred times as a girl, from the doorway, in this same back room.

On Friday morning I sat down in it.

The leather was cold, and it fit me.

Five Dons sat around the round table in their dark coats.

Raf sat across from me, for the Montanos, with his sling gone and a stiff white bandage under his cuff.

At the far side, where Sandro had sat, was the Pagano captain who had asked which night he should be sick.

He looked as though he hadn't slept in a week.

Behind each Don stood his captains, packed in against the walls.

The old man struck his cane.

"The Commission sits to end the war between the Paganos and the Montanos. Signora Rinaldi sits for her father."

A man at the back coughed.

"A woman," he said. "And with child."

I looked for him.

He was a heavy Pagano captain with a gold ring and a red face.

"Say it again," I said.

He shifted.

"This is a table of men. With respect, signora, we do not..."

"The seventh rule was written by my father," I said. "It is the only reason my child is alive. If you would like to object to a Rinaldi sitting here, you are welcome to say so at length."

Nobody laughed.

A few of the older men smiled into their collars.

"There is also a ledger," I said.

I laid the black book on the table.

It made a dull sound.

"Page eleven. Money paid on the first of March, three years ago, from the Pagano account, to a man at a scrapyard." I turned the page. "Page twelve. Money paid on the night of my wedding to four captains for what the book calls quiet."

The red-faced man had stopped moving.

"Captains who knew a boy was lured to a wedding hall to die," I said, "and took an envelope, and sat at my table with a smile. I have their names. I will read them if I must."

I looked at him.

"Or the Commission can ask them to stand down from their seats now."

The room was silent.

The red-faced man's gold ring rattled against the chair.

"We will not need the names read," the old man said, mildly. "I think the gentlemen know who they are."

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