The Moretti estate was unusually lively.
Cecilia and her husband, Andres, came to Adrian’s home to host an event for the other mafia families they were allied with.
In the long formal dining room, several dishes were served, and wines were poured.
Adrian sat on the left side of the table, his face hard as he cut pieces of roasted meat on his plate.
He had lost track of what his parents were discussing with their guests.
He knew what this dinner was about.
He’d known for six months.
Three seats down sat Angelica Romanov, young heiress of the Romanovs’ fortune.
She was young, blonde, beautiful, and wearing a ruby necklace that probably cost more than most men earned in their lives.
Her family had long been allies of the Morettis.
The Romanovs owned half of the shipping docks in the eastern ports, and her father held a seat at the council and trade boards.
She moved through the room with a practiced smile and grace.
For six months, Cecilia had been inviting Angelica to dinner.
Every time, she seated Angelica closer to Adrian.
“You look tired tonight, Adrian,” Angelica said, studying him.
“You work too hard.
A man in your position should take a holiday once in a while.”
“I’m fine,” Adrian said, keeping his eyes on his plate before bringing his wine glass to his lips.
“Surely, the ports and harbors can run without you for a few days,” she continued, ignoring Adrian’s cold response.
“Take a break.
You’re the head of the Moretti family now.
You should at least enjoy what life gives you.”
“I enjoy my life just fine,” Adrian said.
Angelica picked up her glass and smiled.
“Do you?”
Adrian set his knife down and glanced at her impassively.
He then looked at his mother, who was sipping her wine with her usual composure.
Next to her, his father, Andres, sat in silence.
Both his parents had been trying to set him up with the Romanov heiress.
Something he detested.
He had already proven he could succeed without using his marriage as a bargaining chip.
He finished his meal and wiped his hands on his napkin before standing from his seat.
“You’ll have to excuse me.
I still have work to finish.”
“At this hour?” Cecilia’s frown was slight, her tone even.
“We still have guests, Adrian.”
Adrian gave his mother a look that said what he wouldn’t say aloud in front of their guests.
Then he turned to the Castelo Donna, who only smiled.
“It’s alright.
You’ll have to get used to it.
Being a Don means you’re always on call.”
Adrian gave her a polite nod before turning and walking out of the dining room.
His shoes clicked down the marble floor.
The door shut quietly behind him.
Andres stood as well to join the other men on the balcony, leaving the women at the dining table.
Cecilia sighed.
“That’s the problem, Katherine.
Adrian never bothers to take a break.”
“It must have been hard for you to see him like this, Cecilia,” Katherine Castelo replied.
“He’ll come around.
A man can’t mourn forever.”
“It’s been seven years,” Cecilia said, nodding.
“I thought with time he’d be able to forget that woman.”
“Well,” Angelica chimed in, “I’m not keen on waiting for him for too long.
Adrian should make a decision sooner or later.”
Cecilia reached across and placed her hand over Angelica’s.
“Calm down, dear.
It’s only a matter of time.
Adrian can’t avoid this marriage any longer.”
Angelica turned to look at her, her eyes narrowing.
“I’ve been very patient with him, Cecilia.
Six months of dinners and smiling at a man who barely looks at me.”
Cecilia’s smile remained.
“Patience, dear.
These things take time.”
“Time that I don’t have.” Angelica finished her drink in one go.
“My father has been asking questions, questions that I don’t have answers to.
The Romanovs want this alliance.
They want results.”
“And you’ll get your results,” Cecilia assured her.
“He just needs to accept that Sarah is gone.”
Katherine nodded.
“A man like him can’t stay unmarried for too long.”
“Exactly.” Cecilia’s smile widened.
“Once he’s ready, you’ll be there for him.”
Cecilia knew why Adrian was acting like this.
He always acted like this around the anniversary of Sarah’s death.
As the night deepened, guests left one after another.
Cecilia’s assistant appeared at her side and delivered a report in a low voice.
The smile on Cecilia’s face didn’t falter.
It held for a beat too long, frozen in place, while her mind caught up to what she’d just heard.
She excused herself from the remaining guests and pulled the assistant aside.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Madam.
Sir Adrian seems to be looking for someone.
He asked Calvin to bring camera logs and gate records from the port.
Specifically from the other day.”
Cecilia’s expression hardened.
Sarah.
Cecilia’s blood went cold.
No, that can’t be.
She had made sure that woman would disappear from Adrian’s life forever.
Adrian had to be looking for someone else.
He had to be.
“Did Calvin find anything?”
“I don’t know, Madam.
Calvin is loyal to Sir Adrian.
He wouldn’t share information with me,” her assistant replied.
Cecilia crossed her arms and thought for a moment.
“Then we should find it ourselves.
Get me a copy of those records as well.
I want to see what Adrian is up to.”
“But Madam, if Sir Adrian finds out—”
“He won’t,” she cut him off.
“Because you’ll make sure he won’t get a whiff of it.
If it’s related to that woman or people around her, we should know.
Adrian should never know we drove her away that night.”
After finding out Sarah died, Adrian became an empty shell.
He shut himself away and drowned himself in alcohol.
It took Cecilia months to convince him to step out and live again.
Angelica suddenly appeared behind Cecilia.
“What’s going on?
Is something the matter?” she asked.
Cecilia gave Angelica a practiced smile.
“Nothing to worry about, my dear.
We’re just discussing some business matters.”
Angelica’s eyes narrowed.
“Business matters that have you looking like that?”
“The new harbor and port maintenance are always complicated.
Someone always wants to sneak in and make deals under the table.” Cecilia patted Angelica’s hand.
“Why don’t you check on your father?
I believe he’s been looking for you.”
Angelica hesitated but eventually gave in.
She nodded before pulling her hand from Cecilia’s grasp.
“Of course,” she said.
“I’ll see you at the next dinner.”
She walked away and cast one last glance over her shoulder, but Cecilia was already moving down the hall, her face unreadable.
She didn’t look back.
The recordings.
She needed to see them before Adrian did.
Whatever Adrian was looking for, she would find it first.