Chapter 2

Alexander's face was a mask of righteous fury. "Apologize to Katherine, Ava. Now."

Marco chimed in, his voice taking on that authoritative tone he used when he thought he was being the protective older brother. "We're doing this for your own good. You're being irrational."

Rick, clutching his side, staggered to his feet, his eyes burning with a mix of pain and indignation. "You assaulted me, Ava! You're out of control!"

They were a united front, my beloved protectors, shielding the viper.

I remembered Katherine's soft words, her feigned innocence, how she'd woven her web around them. A sympathetic ear for Marco's burdens, a damsel in distress for Alexander's chivalry, a wide-eyed admirer for Rick's skills. It was sickeningly effective.

I stood up, slow and deliberate.

I walked towards Katherine. She shrank back behind Alexander, her eyes wide with fake terror.

"You," I said, my voice low. I reached out, my hand a blur, and snatched the Corleone Eye tiara from her head.

Katherine yelped.

"This," I said, holding the tiara aloft, its diamonds scattering rainbows in the sunlight, "is mine."

I then slapped her. Hard. The sound cracked through the opulent room.

Her head snapped to the side, a red mark blooming on her cheek.

"Ava!" Alexander roared, lunging for me.

I sidestepped him easily, letting his momentum carry him past.

Marco grabbed my arm. "Enough! You're making a scene!"

"A scene?" I wrenched my arm free. "Oh, we're just getting started."

I turned to the half-dozen household staff who had frozen, watching the drama unfold.

"This party," I announced, my voice ringing clear, "is no longer just a birthday celebration. Consider it my official inheritance ceremony. The Corleone family has a new head. Me."

The staff exchanged bewildered glances. The head butler, old Giacomo, looked like he might faint.

Katherine, recovering her composure, burst into theatrical tears. "She's jealous! She's always been jealous of me!"

"Jealous of a maid?" I scoffed.

The guests would be arriving soon. The invitations had gone out under the name "Angelina Corleone," Katherine's alias. They would expect her.

Alexander, Marco, and Rick quickly formed a protective semi-circle around Katherine.

"She's clearly not well," Alexander said, loud enough for the staff to hear. "Katherine – Angelina – is the one my family agreed to ally with. She is the future of the Corleone family."

Marco nodded gravely. "As her brother, I can attest. This is Angelina Corleone. Ava is... confused."

Rick, ever the loyal dog, added, "I'm Angelina's head of security. I protect the true heir."

They stood there, my three betrayers, a wall of lies.

The staff looked from me to them, their faces a mixture of confusion and dawning fear. This was not the smooth transition of power they had anticipated.