I reach the bottom of the stairs and move along the wall, staying in the shadows. The study door is partially open, spilling light into the hallway. I position myself where I can see inside without being seen.
Adora stands in the middle of the room, arms wrapped around her body like she’s trying to hold herself together. She’s wearing simple clothes, jeans and a sweater. She looks small and fragile, but lovely as ever.
Agnello paces around her like a predator circling prey. His face is flushed as he snarls, “I gave you one simple task. One. And you couldn’t even manage that.”
A whisky bottle stands open on the coffee table, nearly empty.
“You don’t understand,” Adora pleads.
“Understand?” He laughs, the sound too loud, and I suspect he’s drunk. “What is there to understand? You had the perfect opportunity and you wasted it. You’re only good for standing around uselessly like you did at the engagement party.”
My breath catches.
“You should have told me beforehand what you were planning,” Adora says, her voice breaking.
“So you could refuse? I was right to tell you nothing,” Agnello says ruthlessly. “Stand there and play the blushing bride. That’s all you needed to know. That’s all you were good for, looking pretty while my men and I did what needed to be done.”
The engagement party. He’s talking about the massacre.
“All that blood,” Adora whispers, her body trembling and her voice shaking. “Night after night I see it whenever I close my eyes.”
“I said what I needed to say to get you there.” Agnello waves dismissively. “You led them right to slaughter like the obedient little lamb you are.”
Ice runs through my veins.
Adora didn’t know.
All this time, I’ve been blaming her and hating her because I thought she was complicit in my family’s murder.
“You’re useless, Adora. Just like your mother.” Agnello’s voice drips with contempt. “Or are you even more brainless than she was?”
Adora flinches like he’s struck her.
My hands curl into fists.
“Mom was not brainless,” she cries tearfully.
“You’re weak.” The venom in his voice makes my jaw clench. He’s speaking to her like she’s garbage. Like she’s nothing. She stands before him shaking in fear.
“I didn’t raise you to be weak,” Agnello continues, stepping closer to her. He’s shouting now, right in her face. “I didn’t raise you to fail me. Stop making excuses and do what you’re told!”
His hand rises.
Time slows.
I see the trajectory of his arm and the way Adora’s eyes widen. She flinches backward but doesn’t raise her hands to defend herself. The realization is gut-wrenching. She’s been hit before. Many times. I should have understood this before. My hatred for the Montonis has made me blind to the fact that Adora is a victim too, and I’ve been punishing her for something she didn’t do.
Something primal and violent roars to life inside me.
My body moves before I can think, and then I’m through the door, covering the distance between us in three long strides.
I catch Agnello’s wrist mid-swing.
He jerks in surprise, his head whipping toward me. He’s as tall as me, and strong in that bull-like way that middle-aged men are. But I’m stronger, and I have him off guard.
Shock then fury floods his face. “What the—”
I twist his arm behind his back, hard enough to make him gasp. Hard enough that one more inch of pressure would snap bone. “Finish that swing and I’ll break your arm.”
