Best Friends, Carbone Brides, Perfect Revenge

The moment the words left her lips, Bianca's body convulsed, foam spilling from her mouth before she went limp.

I recoiled, genuinely startled by the drug's potency, but forced my expression to crumble into one of pure devastation.

"Bianca! Bianca!" I shrieked.

One of the men quickly laid Bianca on a makeshift cot and rushed out to find a doctor.

He returned after what felt like an eternity, his face grim and his hands empty.

I frowned. "Where are the doctors?"

He hesitated. "They're all with Miss Seraphina. Her maid wouldn't let me past. Mr. Nico and Mr. Marco are both in there with her."

I gritted my teeth and stormed out. The show had to go on.

Inside the penthouse, Seraphina was leaning weakly against Marco while Nico directed a team of doctors treating a superficial wound on her arm.

As expected, a maid blocked my path, her face a mask of contempt. "Stop right there! Miss Seraphina is being treated. No one is allowed inside."

I stared her down and slapped her hard across the face.

"I am Nico's wife," I snapped. "You dare stop me?"

The commotion alerted those inside. I heard Nico's curt command: "Let her in."

The maid shot me a venomous glare before stepping aside.

I swept past her and grabbed the nearest doctor by the collar, preparing to drag him out.

Nico's voice cracked like a whip. "Alessia Tierney! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

I froze, turning to face him with tears already welling in my eyes.

I shot back, "Making a scene? What do you call this?"

I pointed at Marco, who was still fussing over Seraphina. "Marco! You left Bianca for dead, and now you're hoarding all the family's doctors. What is she supposed to do?"

"She won't die," Marco said without looking up.

I stared at him, stunned. "Do you hear yourself?"

Marco sneered. "Bianca colluded with the Kozlov Bratva! I should have put a bullet in her myself. Count it as a favor I didn't. She has the nerve to ask for a doctor? Don't worry, they wouldn't have hurt their asset too badly."

I realized this was another one of Seraphina's setups.

Just as I was about to argue, the man from the warehouse burst in. "Sir… Mrs. Carbone's injuries… they were too severe. She's… she's gone."

I froze, then my legs gave out and I collapsed, sobs wracking my body.

Marco's head snapped up. For a second, something flickered in his eyes, but then the suspicion returned.

He sneered at the man. "She's gotten resourceful. Even managed to bribe you."

I scrambled to my feet, wiping my tears. "If you don't believe him, go see for yourself!" I sobbed. "Bianca is lying in that cold warehouse right now! She was covered in blood!"

Marco stood and stalked toward me. "Fine. I'll go see what trick she's pulling this time. But I'll remind you, Alessia, colluding with an enemy is a capital offense. If she’s playing with fire, I can't protect her."

I offered a sarcastic, broken smile and said nothing.

Marco followed the man out, his pace quickening.

Just then, Nico's voice softened. "Seraphina, are you alright?"

Seraphina turned to me, her face a mask of perfect sorrow. "Alessia, I am so sorry about this. I never thought Marco would just abandon Bianca."

The fury in my heart ignited. I lunged, tangling my fingers in her hair. "Stop your pathetic act!"

Seraphina screamed in pain. But before I could do more, a heavy slap cracked across my face, the sting sharp and humiliating.

Nico looked at me, his eyes like ice. "Have you made enough of a scene? This has nothing to do with Seraphina."

Tears blurred my vision, but through the haze, I caught a flicker of panic in his eyes.