Chapter 7 - The Trap at the Bellamy
The Bellamy Grand looked exactly the same.
That felt insulting.
Guests drank champagne beneath chandeliers.
A pianist played near the bar.
Bellmen carried luggage.
No sign remained of the night Emma’s life had shattered.
She entered wearing a black evening gown selected by Dante’s security team because it concealed a microphone transmitter.
Dante walked beside her.
“You clean up well,” Emma muttered.
“I always look like this.”
“That is unfortunately true.”
His mouth twitched.
They entered the private elevator.
Emma’s pulse climbed.
“Remind me why this is a good idea.”
“Vale believes you want protection.”
“From you.”
“Yes.”
“And he believes I’ll trade my shares for immunity.”
“Yes.”
“And what happens when he realizes I’m lying?”
“Try not to be there for that part.”
The doors opened.
Senator Adrian Vale stood inside the Presidential Residence.
He was handsome in the polished political way.
Silver hair.
Blue eyes.
Perfect smile.
“Ms. Carter.”
Emma looked behind her.
Dante remained in the elevator.
Vale’s smile tightened.
“I thought we agreed you’d come alone.”
Emma stepped inside.
“I don’t remember agreeing to anything.”
Dante leaned against the elevator frame.
“Senator.”
Vale looked at him with hatred.
“Romano.”
The elevator doors closed between them.
Emma was alone.
At least physically.
Marco and federal investigators listened from nearby.
Judge Rachel Kim had authorized surveillance based on the ledger and Isabella’s recording.
Now they needed Vale speaking.
He poured whiskey.
“Do you know what Dante’s family did to yours?”
Emma sat.
“I’ve heard several versions.”
“His father murdered Salvatore.”
“That isn’t what my mother believed.”
Vale’s expression shifted.
Small.
But enough.
“You have the tape.”
Emma smiled.
“You shouldn’t have reacted.”
Vale stared at her.
Then he laughed.
“You’re clever.”
“So was my mother.”
“That became unfortunate for her.”
Emma’s blood turned to ice.
In the listening van, agents heard it too.
“Did you kill Isabella?”
Vale took a drink.
“No.”
“Who did?”
“Matteo handled complications.”
Emma forced herself not to look toward the hidden microphone.
“Daniel?”
“Also Matteo.”
Anger nearly broke her control.
Vale sat opposite her.
“Do you know why your mother created that trust?”
“To keep you from controlling Romano Maritime.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“She wanted you to destroy it.”
Emma frowned.
“What?”
“Romano Maritime is not simply a shipping company.”
Vale leaned forward.
“It contains transportation contracts, port access, intelligence relationships, and enough political leverage to influence governments.”
“And you want it.”
“I want order.”
“You want power.”
“Those are often the same thing.”
Emma looked toward the windows.
“Why tell me?”
“Because you have two options.”
Vale slid documents across the table.
“Sign your shares to my holding company and disappear with twenty million dollars.”
“And option two?”
“You die. Dante inherits. Then Dante gets indicted using evidence I already control.”
Emma’s jaw tightened.
“And Matteo?”
“Matteo becomes chairman while Dante is awaiting trial.”
There it was.
The entire plan.
Emma reached for the pen.
Vale relaxed.
Then the lights went out.
Total darkness.
A gunshot cracked.
Emma dropped.
Men shouted.
Another shot.
The doors burst open.
Emergency lights flashed red.
Matteo Romano stood inside the room holding a pistol.
Vale stared.
“What are you doing?”
“Correcting your assumption.”
“What assumption?”
“That I still need you.”
Matteo shot Vale in the shoulder.
Emma crawled behind a sofa.
Chaos erupted.
Dante entered through the private elevator with Marco.
“Emma!”
Matteo fired.
Dante returned fire.
Glass shattered.
Vale collapsed.
Emma saw the transfer documents on the floor.
Matteo grabbed them.
“They’re unsigned!” Vale shouted.
Matteo looked toward Emma.
“Then she comes with me.”
He seized Emma by the arm.
She fought.
He pressed the gun against her ribs.
Dante stopped.
Matteo smiled.
“Nephew.”
Dante’s face was terrifyingly calm.
“Let her go.”
“She owns what should belong to us.”
“Let her go.”
“Your father made the same mistake.”
Dante’s eyes changed.
“What mistake?”
“He chose Isabella over blood.”
Emma froze.
Matteo laughed.
“Vittorio arrived at the pier in time to save Salvatore.”
Dante stared.
“You lied.”
“Of course.”
“What happened?”
“I gave your father a choice.”
Matteo’s smile widened.
“His empire or his friend.”
Dante’s voice became almost inaudible.
“And?”
“He chose his friend.”
For the first time, Matteo looked angry.
“So I killed Salvatore anyway.”
Emma shut her eyes.
Dante’s hands curled.
“And Isabella?”
“She ran.”
Matteo pressed the gun harder against Emma.
“Her daughter won’t.”
Then a new voice filled the room.
“Federal agents! Drop the weapon!”
Matteo spun.
Emma moved.
She drove her heel into his foot and threw herself sideways.
Dante lunged.
A gun fired.
Emma hit the floor.
Then she saw Dante fall.
Everything stopped.
“Dante!”
Blood spread across his white shirt.
Emma crawled toward him as agents overwhelmed Matteo.
Dante’s eyes remained open.
Barely.
Emma pressed both hands against the wound.
“No. Stay with me.”
He looked at her.
“Rooster.”
Emma cried and laughed at the same time.
“What?”
“You never repeated it.”
“Shut up.”
“Still rude.”
“Please don’t die.”
His face softened.
Then his eyes closed.
May you like
And for the first time since meeting him, Emma realized she was no longer afraid of losing her life.
She was afraid of losing him.
