Chapter 7: The Pearls

"What is that?" I said.

Stefano turned and saw the phone in my hand.

He did not take it back.

"A file my people built years ago," he said. "When I first wanted to know where Rocco was weak."

"Leverage."

"That's what the folder was called."

"Nine years ago," I said. "On my wedding day."

"Your picture was in it because you married him."

"I'm not your leverage, Stefano."

"No."

"I'm not going to be anyone's again."

He looked at me for a long time.

"Delete it if you want," he said. "Take the phone."

I put it on the desk.

If I deleted it, he would only have more copies, and if I didn't, I would never stop looking at it.

"Leave it where it is," I said. "I'll be watching."

I went back to the guest room and did not sleep.

In the morning, Stefano's aunt put toast in front of me and told me to eat.

Her face was drawn.

Stefano came into the kitchen with his phone to his ear and his jaw set.

He hung up and set it down very gently.

"Nardo's in the hospital," he said.

The toast turned to paste in my mouth.

"Last night, Ugo and four men went to his house. They said he'd helped you leave."

"He did. He gave me the keys."

"They broke three fingers on his right hand."

I stood up.

"He's sixty-four."

"His grandson found him this morning. He's awake. He's asking for you."

"Rocco signed a paper on Sunday," I said. "One pint, and then I'm free. He signed it in front of both crews."

"Yes."

"And then he sent Ugo to break an old man's hand."

"He sent them after you were free, Cosima," Stefano said. "He wants every capo to see that the paper was nothing."

Keep reading free with an account. Start My Mafia Husband Forced Me to Bleed for His Pregnant Mistress from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.