Even Emilio clearly hadn't expected it. After a beat of surprise, he turned to me with that trademark sneer of contempt.
"Then I thank the Don's daughter for her kindness."
Emilio climbed into the car and left.
The men were forced to the ground. Elena's own enforcers administered the lashes. Not a shred of mercy. Within minutes, the entire street echoed with screams.
"Please, have mercy! We'll never work for the prince consort again!"
"Never in this lifetime! Please, mercy!"
"Elena!"
I lunged forward, half out of my mind with fury.
A maidservant caught my arm and held me back.
"Please don't make things worse for yourself. Surely you know. The Don's daughter has been in love with your brother since they were children."
The air left my lungs.
I remembered asking her once whether she truly had feelings for me. That smile she gave. Saying nothing.
In that moment.
I understood.
I understood everything.
Elena's gaze settled on me. The noise of the beating behind her, the groaning men, the slap of leather on skin, none of it touched her face. She looked at me the way a capo looks at a name about to be struck from the books.
"You could have gone after anyone. But not him."
Her voice was ice.