Chapter 3

On the day of my funeral, I wore a long black dress and climbed into the empty coffin inside St. Mark's Church.

Nico spoke before the lid closed.

"Your lungs are still healing."

"There is only a small air vent. If you cannot breathe, press the button on your left."

"I understand the risk."

"The evidence and the freeze orders are ready."

I closed my eyes.

"Let Damian finish his show."

The lid shut.

A few hours later, the church filled with people.

Representatives from the Five Families, members of the East Coast Commission, every Russo capo, and the relatives of the twelve dead men took their seats.

Through the wood, I heard people I had once protected curse my name.

"She does not deserve a place in the family cemetery."

"Her body should be burned."

"After everything the Don did for her."

Every word struck a wound that had barely closed.

I did not open the coffin.

The time had not come.

Footsteps stopped beside me.

Damian began the eulogy.

He called me the love of his life and the person he had trusted more than anyone.

Then he raised the forged ledger.

"The family comes before any marriage."

"Serena sold us out and sent twelve of our brothers to their deaths."

"From this moment on, she is no longer Mrs. Russo. She will not be buried as our Donna."

Crying mixed with applause.

Then the funeral music changed to a wedding march.

Camilla walked down the aisle in the gown made for me.

She stopped beside my coffin and told the room she had never wanted to replace me. She only wanted to protect the Russo family and the child she carried.

Damian opened a velvet box and removed the copied ring.

"From this day forward, Camilla Ferraro will be the new Donna of the Russo family."

He slid the ring onto her finger.

Camilla threw her arms around him.

They kissed beside my coffin.

I opened my eyes and pressed the release.

The first knock stopped the music.

The second knock made someone in the front row scream.

After the third knock, the coffin lid began to rise.

My bandaged hand appeared in front of everyone.