Light chatter began as Roam drummed his nails on the edge of the table. He pondered a moment and when he spoke, the chatter stopped and he was heard. “I will have you know the reinstatement of the Vero seat is not something I support of and I, for one, did not give an aye.” Uh oh. Not a good start. “But you have me curious. Vincenza is the eldest and entitled to the seat. Why should we grant it to you over her?”

Take a breath. Keep calm. Speak slowly and clearly.

I lifted my chin and did my best to hide my emotions when I stated steadily, “I was sold for that seat. Without me as payment, it never would have been brought to council nor reinstated. I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request to wish to claim what I paid for.”

Murmurs of agreement sounded and Enza glanced around, looking a little shook. “Vicky, no,” Vincenza uttered. “You can’t do this.”

No?

Watch me.

Roam looked down his nose at me for a long moment and then, he chuckled quietly. “What the fuck? My inquisitive nature has been peaked and I want to see how this pans out. We’ll take it to vote. Arthur?”

The Brit said, “I know she’s a horrid pain in the ass, but she is entitled. It’s a nay from me.”

Catalina didn’t hesitate. “If we have to have a Vero seat, I’d prefer it to be a Vero that doesn’t make me want to gouge an eye out. Aye.”

Striker spared me the quickest glimpse before peering back down at his phone. “Sure. Why not?”

Anoushka glanced at Vincenza with a tiny smile. “You sold your blood – your sister – off to buy a seat at the table?” She laughed then, “Stone cold, bitch.” I was almost sure she was going to say nay when she surprised me with an, “Aye.” And when she glanced over at Enza again, there was no humor left in her face. “Even I know some things are off limits. Let’s see you try and win it back with nothing to your name.”

Vincenza’s jaw went stiff and she avoided looking into the other woman’s eyes.

Roam then counted himself and I wasn’t surprised by his unfeeling, “Nay.”

And finally, from behind me, my husband was still a member of the table. “Aye.”

Vincenza looked at me then and I heard the pain in her voice when she muttered, “What have you done?”

Roam didn’t look too happy himself. He turned to the man next to him with the wide sharp-toothed grin tattooed onto his face. The man shrugged lightly and Roam turned back to the table. “The ayes have it.”

Oh my God. We did it. The seat was mine.