I suspect she's not telling me the full truth, and it's something I'll have to follow up on with her driver and guard later. But for now, I have other things to worry about.

"I need you to make sure Ivy bathes tonight. By force, if need be. Take two of the maids and Marco with you. He will remain in the bedroom if you need assistance."

Mercedes stares at me with a vacant expression. I was expecting a fight, but her protest is minimal.

"Why can't Antonia do it?"

"Because Antonia is getting too close with her. She feels sorry for her, and I will not tolerate anyone's sympathy toward her right now. This is why it is the perfect job for you."

"I see." She offers a stiff nod. "Call in the emotionless robot when you need her."

"You've always been so proud of it." I arch a brow at her. "Why change your tune now?"

"There is no changing anything," she answers somberly. "I am who I am, Santi."

She turns to leave, and I stand and walk around my desk, calling her back.

"Should I be worried about you?"

"No." Her response is flat. Toneless. And before I can say anything else, she is gone.

I spend the next hour going over the file for Angelo while I wait for my meeting with Judge. He arrives on time, punctual as always.

"Don't you ever get sick of sitting in this office?" He takes a seat across from me and notes the disarray of the space. I haven't allowed Antonia in here to clean in days.

"I have a lot of work to catch up on."

"That must be the reason for the exhaustion on your face," he muses.

I lean back in my chair, eyeing the bottle of scotch I've been sipping from all day. It is unlike me to be so indulgent, but it seems to be the only thing keeping my mind from going to the darkest spaces.

"The final meeting with the Tribunal is this week," I tell him.

He nods in understanding. "And they will want to know your recommended sentence for your wife's crime. Or else they will impose one themselves."

I twist the cap off the bottle and take a long pull as Judge studies me.

"You’re not in an easy position," he says. "Have you decided what you will tell them?"

"What is there to say?" I close my eyes and savor the burn in my throat. "She is guilty. I have nothing to offer in the way of her defense."

"That may be. But her guilt isn't the issue. The issue is what her punishment will be, and if it will be enough to satisfy them."

I tilt my head back, staring up at the shadows dancing across the ceiling. "You're the Judge. You tell me. What would you do if you were in my position?"