Page 206 of Merciless Daddy

I felt the stillness move through her.

“Gianni used it to petition for an emergency injunction,” Serafina continued. “He wants Yelena’s voting rights frozen while the court evaluates her capacity.”

“For how long?” I asked.

“Initially thirty days. In practice, until he controls enough of the companies to make the freeze permanent.”

Yelena pushed herself upright. The sheet slid down her shoulder.

“He’s saying I’m insane,” she said.

“He’s saying you are compromised,” Serafina replied. “It is cleaner language. Same goal.”

Angela’s face joined the call from Chicago. Pietro stood behind her, one hand on the back of her chair.

“We can fight it,” Angela said. “But Yelena will need to give evidence herself. Documents are not enough. We need her to state clearly that she left Gianni voluntarily. That she understands the business decisions she has made. That she has not been coerced.”

Yelena’s jaw tightened.

“I can do that.”

“I know,” Angela said. “But it will be hostile. Lev’s people will use every private detail they can reach.”

“They will ask about Sal.”

“Yes.”

Yelena looked at me.

I held her gaze.

“You will not face it alone,” I said.

Serafina continued. “There is more.”

Of course there was.

“Thirty Sokolov men occupied one of Yelena’s cold-storage depots outside Brooklyn. They assaulted the manager who refused them access. They announced they are protecting the business from foreign criminal interference.”

The words made my hands curl.

“Is the manager alive?” Yelena asked.

“Yes,” Serafina said. “Hospital. Broken jaw. Broken wrist. He is conscious.”

“What did they take?”

“Nothing yet. They are holding the site. Blocking inventory movement. They want the spectacle.”

Yelena swung her legs off the bed.

I caught her wrist gently.

“Where are you going?”

“To work.”

“You will work. But first you will breathe.”