Chapter 8 - The Bride They Tried to BuryThe abandoned Cavalli headquarters stood beside the Chicago River.
Its windows were dark.
Its entrance was guarded.
And somewhere inside, Elena Marquez was waiting.
Roman wanted to go alone.
I insisted on coming.
We argued for twenty minutes.
Finally, he looked at me with exhausted eyes.
"Cara, I cannot lose another woman I love."
The words silenced me.
"You love me?"
He stepped closer.
"Yes."
My heart ached.
"Then trust me."
He took my hands.
"That's the hardest thing I've ever done."
We entered the building shortly before midnight.
Marco and Daniel monitored the operation from a nearby surveillance van.
Roman wore a concealed recording device.
I carried a small emergency transmitter beneath my coat.
Neither of us expected Alessandro to honor any agreement.
Inside, the lobby smelled of dust and old leather.
A single light illuminated the center of the room.
Beneath it stood an older man with silver hair.
Alessandro Cavalli.
He smiled.
"Roman."
Roman's expression remained cold.
"Where is my daughter?"
Alessandro sighed.
"Always so impatient."
"Where is she?"
"Safe."
"Show me."
Alessandro gestured toward a screen.
A video appeared.
A little girl sat at a table drawing flowers.
She had dark hair.
Gray eyes.
And Roman's unmistakable expression of concentration.
My throat tightened.
Sofia.
Alive.
Roman took a step toward the screen.
Alessandro smiled.
"Beautiful, isn't she?"
Roman's voice shook.
"Where is she?"
"That depends on how cooperative you intend to be."
A door opened.
Two guards escorted a woman into the room.
Elena.
She was thinner than in the photographs.
Her dark hair had been cut short.
A faint scar crossed her forehead.
But she was alive.
Roman stopped breathing.
"Elena."
She looked at him.
For a moment, the years seemed to disappear.
Then she began crying.
"I'm sorry."
Roman approached slowly.
Alessandro raised a hand.
"Not so fast."
The guards stopped Roman.
Alessandro produced a document.
"Sign this."
Roman glanced at it.
A transfer agreement.
Every remaining Cavalli holding.
Every legitimate company.
Every controlling interest.
All transferred to Alessandro.
Roman laughed bitterly.
"That's what this was about?"
Alessandro shrugged.
"Power has always been a family business."
"You murdered people for money."
"I protected our legacy."
Roman's eyes darkened.
"You destroyed my family."
Alessandro smiled.
"Your father did most of that himself."
Roman went still.
"What?"
Alessandro leaned closer.
"Your father discovered the hospital scheme. He wanted to confess."
The room seemed to contract.
"So I arranged his death."
Roman stared at him.
For years, he had believed his father died of a heart attack.
Alessandro continued.
"And when Elena discovered the records, I arranged her disappearance."
I felt sick.
"What about my mother?"
Alessandro looked at me.
"Margaret was inconvenient."
My blood turned cold.
"She died of a stroke."
He smiled.
"Did she?"
I lunged toward him.
Roman caught my arm.
"Cara."
I was shaking.
"You killed my mother."
Alessandro's smile widened.
"Your mother should have minded her own business."
Something inside me broke.
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I remembered Roman's warning.
Don't let him make you lose control.
I took a breath.
"Where's Sofia?"
Alessandro glanced toward the screen.
"Sign first."
Roman picked up the pen.
"Let Elena go."
Alessandro considered.
Then nodded.
The guards released her.
Elena hurried toward Roman.
For one terrible second, I wondered whether he would embrace her.
He did.
Gently.
Like someone holding a piece of his past.
Then he stepped back.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
Roman looked at me.
And held out his hand.
I took it.
Elena watched us.
Something like understanding crossed her face.
Then she whispered, "You love her."
Roman nodded.
"Yes."
Elena closed her eyes.
"I'm glad."
Alessandro slammed his hand against the table.
"Enough."
Roman signed the first page.
Then the second.
Alessandro leaned forward.
"Very good."
Roman stopped.
"Before I sign the final page, I want to hear you say it."
"Say what?"
"That you ordered the bombing."
Alessandro laughed.
"Of course I did."
Roman held his gaze.
"And Margaret Bennett?"
"She was poisoned."
I nearly collapsed.
Roman tightened his grip on my hand.
"And my father?"
Alessandro smiled.
"Also me."
Roman slowly placed the pen down.
"Thank you."
Alessandro frowned.
"For what?"
Roman looked toward the ceiling.
"For confessing."
The lights suddenly came on.
Police officers poured through the side entrances.
Alessandro reached for his gun.
A shot rang out.
May you like
Roman shoved me behind him.
Then he fell.
