Chapter 3 #2
Elena never would have expected the faint flush to stain his cheeks a rosy amber, or the way Anthony’s brows drew together as he looked down at the grimy sidewalk. He raked a hand through the stiff strands of his hair, giving them an artful tousle.
When he remained silent, Elena began to doubt what she’d perceived as guilt.
Anger, maybe, at being called out for his less than noble actions.
Scoffing, Elena laid her fingers on Jamie’s arm and started off again.
At least they’d managed to find parking close by.
Her hip ached, the deep-seated throbbing coursing down into her leg and up her side.
“I was a stupid boy, Miss Costanzo,” Anthony said as he took a handful of long strides to catch up to them. He kept Jamie between them, making no move to stall their progress. “Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”
Pain made her careless, impatience bleeding into her voice as she tried to keep to the brisk walk. She wanted out of the city, away from all of its dirt and staring eyes that even now judged her. “What do you want, Mr. Marchetti?”
“I heard about your loss, and I wanted to say I am truly sorry.”
“Thank you. Now that you’ve done your duty, goodbye.”
“Elena, please, will you slow down before you hurt yourself further?” Anthony’s sigh was laden with gruff displeasure.
“No, I can’t,” Elena ground out through clenched teeth. If he hadn’t been there, she could have. She could loop her arm through Jamie’s and use him as a crutch as the agony flashed through her hips.
“Why are you being so difficult? I’m just trying to—”
“Hasn’t your family done enough damage,” Elena hissed as Jamie opened the car door and handed her inside.
Gone were the sleek black cars with their gleaming chrome.
In their place was an old sedan that had seen better days, its once shiny paint dulled to a sullen flatness.
There was the smell of musty old things in the upholstery, but at least this one’s interior was intact.
“What are you talking about?”
“Ask your brother.”
Anthony caught the edge of the door before Jamie could swing it shut, his knuckles blanching as he held it open. “What has he done to you now?”
“Ask him. Now let go, people are starting to stare.”
“They’ve been watching.” Anthony bowed his head, pitching his voice low for her ears alone. “I am not my brother, Miss Costanzo. Whatever he’s done, I’ll try to make it right.”
“I’m a blight on society, Mr. Marchetti. There is no fixing it and especially not in three days’ time. Now let go!”
Part of her wanted to give him credit for removing his hand and letting Jamie close her in the stuffy dimness.
As he remained standing beside the car though, it became easier to hold onto her anger.
Fanning the flames of it as his brows knit while he watched her through the plain window.
In the not-so-distant past, he would never have dared to stare at her so blatantly, and especially not in public.
Elena was coming to realize that all the tangled strings she’d hated so much had kept her protected as much as they restrained.
Being made to bow and scrape before the leading Alphas might have left a bitter taste in her mouth, but no one would have ever treated her like Mr. Lamberti and Anthony had today.
Even her father, so eager with his punishments, had kept her safe.
“Here, kid.” Jamie tossed the bottle of painkillers back to her as he wove the car through the early afternoon traffic.
Elena swallowed two of the pills dry. She wouldn’t break down. Not here. When she could safely lock away the outside world, maybe then she would indulge in her tears. There was too much to do.
The drugs were doing a fine job of numbing it all as they pulled up in front of the dark mansion.
Elena let Jamie help her out, using his solid presence to bolster her spirit for what was to come next.
She wasn’t looking forward to riffling through the past, dismantling what portions of their lives her father’s mates left behind.
“I can start, Miss. Why don’t you get some rest?”
“No. It needs to be done, and the faster we get through it, the better.”
Once changed into more practical jeans and t-shirt, Elena joined Jamie in clearing out the closets, dressers, and bureaus.
They’d left behind a considerable amount, but little of it was worth anything.
The jewelry was little better, most of the better pieces taken with them.
A few remained, missed in their scramble to pack everything of value.
If she found buyers, they could add a handful of days to her plight.
She had to find the buyers first, though.
Custom tailored gowns were only worth it to collectors and those the dress was made for. Bespoke suits wouldn’t fit anyone but their intended owner.
“We’ll figure it out,” Jamie assured her. Something he was doing more and more often as the hours passed and their pile of possibilities dwindled.
“I’m sure we will,” Elena said as she opened another of the large, flat wood cases holding Linda’s jewelry.
Trailing her fingertips over the lustrous pearls and diamond chips set in gold, Elena’s brows drifted down.
Her gaze caught and held on a string of jade stones, their cool glow out of place in all the warmth Linda surrounded herself in.
Drawing the necklace out, Elena held it up to the light for a moment before looking back into the case.
A matching set of earrings, and a gnarled mass of sapphires buried beneath thin gold plates.
Not cheap by any means, but they weren’t suited to the owner of the case who preferred ostentatious expense and made it obvious.
Among the thick bangles and wide hoops were smaller, far more delicate pieces.
There, nestled among the gaudy rings with huge knots of gems sat a silver band set with tiny chips of diamonds.
Elena would know that ring anywhere. Her mother’s mating gift from Valente as a show of his wealth before he’d brought her into this house.
Elena let the rest slip from her fingers, clattering across the well-polished wood as she tugged the tiny ring free of the velveteen pads.
It was far too small to have ever fit Linda’s hand.
It would have fit Corrina’s diminutive fingers perfectly.
Linda had stolen the ring, maybe these other little pieces, too.
Shoving the box away, Elena scrambled over the piles of clothing to fling open another case. Her searching unearthed a set of thin silver bracelets in another box, more rings in yet another, necklaces and earrings tucked away beneath pretentious displays.
Elena howled and threw the boxes across the room. Sobbed as they shattered against the wall. First Valente had stolen Corinna away, and then those evil bitches had taken everything that was hers.
Her father might be out of her reach, but she’d make the others pay. Some way, somehow, she would find a way to make them regret their brazen decisions.