Page 170 of Reign

“You let him think she’s at a hotel with Riot.”

“Yeah.”

“Then you sent Riot away and put Elena in my house without telling Angelo.”

“Correct.” She lifts her chin. “Look at that. You can keep up.”

“Careful, Hermana.”

“No, you be careful.“ Her voice lowers. “If Angelo knew Elena was staying with you, he would lose his mind. I don’t need that. She doesn’t need that. And you don’t need it either, no matter how calm and morally superior you’re pretending to be.”

“I’ve never pretended to be morally superior.”

“Good. It would be embarrassing for everyone.”

Despite myself, I nearly smile.

Then Elena flashes through my mind.

The amusement disappears.

“She’s uncomfortable.”

Adriana’s mouth tightens.

“Elena’s always uncomfortable around this family.”

“Don’t do that. Don’t blame her.”

Her expression sharpens. “Don’t walk into one family dinner and pretend you suddenly understand all of us.”

“She’s sitting at that table afraid to answer a simple question because you’re asking her to lie.”

“She can survive one dinner.”

“No. Stop making her responsible for your husband’s reaction.”

Her expression hardens, but something tired moves beneath it.

“I care about peace,” she says. “For me. For my child. For the house I have to live in after everyone else gets to leave feeling righteous.”

“And Elena?”

“What about her?”

“She has to live with the consequences of your choices.”

“She had nowhere else to go,” she says. “You were the best option.”

“Excellent judgment.”

Her eyes narrow.

“Terrible execution,” I add.

“Ay, cállate,” she spits.

“Why did you invite me?”