Not yet. You’re not allowed to grieve. Not just yet.
The lawyer continued with a standard clause about debts and expenses. Then he moved to the Money and Personal Property clause.
“I give all my tangible personal property and all policies and proceeds of insurance covering such property, to my son, Mario. If he does not survive me, I give that property to my wife, Bianca.”
Enzio looked at me sideways as restless shifts in seats surrounded us. I kept my gaze steady on Mario. The innocence and unconditional love in the eyes of my baby.
“I give all my residences, subject to any mortgages or encumbrances thereon, and all policies and proceeds of insurance covering such property, to my son, Mario. If he does not survive me, I give that property to my wife, Bianca.”
The clauses poured like bullets, and the amount of rage and hate I felt in this room sucked all the air out of my lungs. It didn’t matter, though. There was nothing they could do to hurt me anymore. It was just a matter of a few minutes that I’d have to endure this shit before it was all over.
Enzio’s breath fell on my shoulder. “You knew he’d do this, didn’t you?”
My gaze lifted to his. It was time for me to return one of his disgusting smirks.
“Don’t get too smug. He’d signed your death certificate with this will.”
“Wait till you listen to the last clause.”
The lawyer cleared his throat. “If under this will any property shall be payable outright to a person who is a minor, my executors may, without court approval, pay all or part of such property to the guardian of that minor, or may defer payment of such property until the minor reaches the age of majority, as defined by his or her state of residence.
“I appoint as guardian of the person and property of my minor children…my brother Enzio Lanza.”
Enzio’s head and mine jerked up at the same time.
“He shall have custody of my minor children, and shall serve without bond. If he does not qualify or for any reason ceases to serve as guardian, I appoint as successor guardian my mother Marta Lanza.”
Chapter18
Enzio
I didn’t see that coming.
This couldn’t be Cosimo’s will.
Bianca was a terrible liar. She couldn’t have been bluffing all along. She was certain the will would give her the power to save her ass, but this… It stripped her out of everything. It left her under our mercy.
As his current sole parent—I hadn’t become Mario’s legal parent yet—she could counter the guardianship in court, and she’d win. Unless she was an infidel, a whore or a junkie, not even we could bribe a judge to terminate her parental responsibility. Even if it was possible, it could take forever.
That only meant one thing. Bianca would have to agree not to counter this will or she’d get the kiss of death.
It didn’t make any sense. Cosimo would have never done that to the woman he betrayed his family for.This is not Cosimo’s will.
La Famiglia was based on loyalty, honor and trust. To betray the living was an unforgivable crime, and death was the only acceptable penalty. To mess with the dead… No. The Lanzas didn’t do that.Iwouldn’t do that.
Whoever tampered with a dead man’s will, whoever had the guts to alter my brother’s words to their benefit would pay. I’d make sure of that.
Braced for another one of Bianca’s sloppy countermoves, I just stared at her.
She wasn’t moving. At all. Not blinking. Not even breathing. Was she in shock or plotting something that would dig another nail in her coffin?
I patted her thigh. “Bianca, you okay?” For the first time since she’d become my wife, I was truly concerned. “You’re still under my protection. You must know that.”
Her lifeless face blanched even more. It was only when I tried to take Mario that she jerked like a wounded animal, her eyes glowing like a lioness ready for the hunt.
Before I could say anything, I glimpsed Marta and Alfio coming our way. They had the will in their hands and showed it to us.
The signature was Cosimo’s, but I knew it was forged. Bianca took one glance at the signature and date and averted her gaze. Her mouth remained sealed. Then she shuffled to her feet.
