Page 238 of Merciless Daddy

“Did I ask you something?”

“That belongs to Angela.”

“Not anymore.”

“You stole it?”

“She left it in a locked office with two cameras and a guard downstairs.” Donatella slipped off her coat. “It was almost insulting.”

I searched her face. Nothing. No hidden reassurance. No warning. Only impatience.

The Carusos were betraying the Scordatos? For what?

Gianni’s technicians approached the case. One photographed the serial strip. Another connected a handheld reader to the external certification port.

They did not open the housing.

“The seal remains intact,” Donatella said. “If you dismantle it, the certificate dies.”

“We know,” one technician replied.

“Then behave like it.”

The reader flashed.

Genuine certificate.

Active.

Provisioned to Halberd Chicago.

The words appeared on the small display.

I felt something inside me drop.

Angela had been hurt in the legal suite. Sal had called in Dante’s favor.

And Dante’s sister had brought Gianni the one object he required.

“What did he offer you?” I asked.

Donatella leaned one hip against the table.

“Protection for Caruso businesses. Cancellation of Halberd’s outstanding loans. A private stake in your companies once Gianni has control.”

“My companies.”

“Currently, they are a hostage crisis with accounting staff.”

Gianni laughed. Donatella did not.

I hated her more for that.

“You sold your brothers,” I said.

“No, no. Once the deal goes through my brothers will be quite happy. But right now, they are losing, and they can’t even see it.”

The answer came without hesitation.