"Sister-in-law, it was this worthless thing all along! She stole every dollar Dante sent you, month after month, to pay for her mother's hospital bills. I'll have the boys deal with her right here. Consider it justice served."
"That won't be necessary."
My voice was ice. Even I wasn't foolish enough to miss it. The girl was skin and bone, a scapegoat shoved forward to take the fall.
I turned to carry my daughter toward the private dining room where the Commission banquet was being held, but behind me, Gianna flicked a glance at her children.
In the next instant, her son and daughter charged at us, stones already in their fists, hurling them straight at my head.
"You evil woman! You're trying to steal our daddy! In your dreams!"
"Beat her dead! Don't you dare bully our mommy or take our daddy away!"
Stone after stone flew at us. I twisted to shield Valentina, but one rock caught her square on the forehead. Blood poured down instantly.
Valentina wailed, her small body shaking with sobs. The two brats grinned at the sight and scooped up more stones, throwing harder.
I turned and fixed them with a stare cold enough to freeze marrow. "Do you want to die?"