"All these years we've indulged your sordid storytelling ritual, Serena. An annual voyage into the past's murkiest depths." She spat sideways, disdain dripping from every syllable. "It reeks of weakness."
Stunned silence gripped the room before Bianca found her mocking laughter once more. "My my, cagna, who pissed in your cannoli this morning?"
Natalia whirled on her with cold fury blazing. "You dare minimize the trauma she-" She gestured sharply at Serena "-has suffered? The loss, the betrayal?"
Shoving back her chair with force enough to rattle the bones, Nat started stalkin' over. Pure leonine menace, I'm tellin' ya. "I ain't indulgin' no self-pity party no more. Not when the heart of this Cosa Nostra's gone rancid and swole with indecision!"
