Chapter 6 - THE GALA TRAP
The Valente Foundation gala filled the Grand Regency with politicians, executives, celebrities, and enough security to invade a small country.
Sienna wore black.
Not because Lucia selected it.
Because she did.
Dante saw her at the top of the staircase and forgot whatever Gabriel had been telling him.
Sienna noticed.
“Problem?”
“No.”
“You’re staring.”
“Yes.”
“At least you’re improving at honesty.”
He offered his arm.
She took it.
Cameras erupted.
To the outside world, they looked like Chicago royalty.
Inside, both were terrified.
The ledger in Dante’s possession was fake.
The real one had been secured elsewhere.
The emerald ring was real.
And Marco was somewhere inside the building.
Victor contacted them at nine seventeen.
“Ballroom balcony.”
Sienna and Dante moved upstairs.
Nobody waited.
Then the lights went out.
Screams erupted below.
Emergency lights illuminated the corridor red.
A man grabbed Sienna from behind.
She drove her heel backward.
He grunted.
Dante hit him once.
The man collapsed.
“Where did you learn that?”
“Diner customers.”
They reached the service stairs.
Victor’s voice came through the building speakers.
“Dante.”
Every guest heard it.
“Your father spent his life pretending honor could exist in our world.”
Dante stopped.
“He was wrong.”
Screens throughout the ballroom activated.
Security footage appeared.
Marco sat tied to a chair.
Alive.
Sienna rushed toward the screen.
“Dad.”
Victor appeared beside him.
“Bring me the ledger.”
Dante whispered to Gabriel.
“Trace it.”
Gabriel nodded.
Sienna stared at the background.
Concrete wall.
Steam pipe.
A yellow warning sign.
She recognized it.
“The basement laundry.”
Dante looked at her.
“How?”
“I worked banquets here when I was nineteen.”
They moved.
Fast.
Down two flights.
Through the kitchen.
Into the service basement.
Victor waited.
So did Rocco Santoro.
Sienna stopped.
Her uncle was older than she expected.
Gray hair.
Expensive suit.
Calm eyes.
He studied her.
“Elena’s daughter.”
Sienna felt sick.
“You killed her.”
Rocco smiled faintly.
“No.”
That answer struck harder than a confession.
“What?”
“Your mother died of cancer.”
“I know.”
“And she died because she refused my money for treatment.”
Sienna’s anger erupted.
“She refused you.”
“She chose poverty over family.”
“She chose freedom.”
Rocco’s smile disappeared.
Victor stepped forward.
“Ledger.”
Dante held up the fake book.
“Marco first.”
Victor pressed a gun to Marco’s head.
Sienna’s father looked confused.
Then he saw her.
“Sienna?”
Her heart broke.
“I’m here, Dad.”
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“I know.”
He smiled weakly.
“You never listened.”
“No.”
Victor demanded the book.
Dante tossed it.
Rocco opened it.
His expression changed.
“Fake.”
Everything happened at once.
Victor fired.
Dante shoved Sienna down.
Gabriel’s men stormed the room.
Rocco disappeared through a service exit.
Dante tackled Victor.
Sienna crawled toward Marco.
“Dad!”
She cut his restraints.
Behind her, Victor and Dante crashed into a metal table.
Victor pulled a knife.
Sienna screamed.
Dante caught his wrist.
They struggled.
Then Marco stood.
Confused.
Weak.
But standing.
“Victor.”
Victor looked toward him.
Marco’s eyes suddenly became clear.
“You killed Antonio.”
Victor smiled.
“And you spent thirty years hiding like a coward.”
Marco picked up a fallen gun.
His hands shook.
Sienna froze.
“Dad.”
Victor laughed.
“You don’t have it in you.”
Marco aimed.
For one terrible second, Sienna thought he would fire.
Instead, he lowered the weapon.
“No,” Marco said. “I don’t.”
Police flooded the basement.
Not corrupt officers.
Federal agents.
Dante had arranged them.
Victor stared in disbelief.
Dante wiped blood from his mouth.
“My father believed violence was the only language men like you understood.”
He looked toward Sienna.
“I’m trying something different.”
Victor was arrested.
But Rocco escaped.
And three hours later, when the estate finally quieted, Dante found Sienna alone on the terrace.
“You’re cold.”
“I’m thinking.”
“Dangerous habit.”
She smiled faintly.
He removed his coat and placed it around her.
“Your father is safe.”
“Thank you.”
Dante looked over the frozen grounds.
“Sienna.”
“Yeah?”
“The kiss wasn’t a mistake.”
She went still.
“I said it was because I was afraid.”
“Of me?”
“Of wanting something I shouldn’t.”
She turned.
“And what do you want?”
His eyes met hers.
“You.”
No manipulation.
No command.
Just one word.
Sienna stepped closer.
“You’re terrible at proposals.”
His expression softened.
“That wasn’t one.”
“Good.”
She kissed him.
Slowly this time.
When they separated, Lucia stood inside the doorway.
Neither had noticed her.
She looked delighted.
Dante groaned.
“Mother.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You’re smiling.”
“I’m allowed.”
Then Lucia’s expression changed.
Gabriel appeared behind her.
“Boss.”
Dante immediately knew.
“What happened?”
“Rocco took someone.”
Sienna’s stomach dropped.
“Who?”
Gabriel looked at Lucia.
“Your mother’s driver.”
Lucia frowned.
Then Gabriel continued.
“And he left a message.”
He handed Dante a photograph.
It showed a church.
A wedding invitation lay across the altar.
Printed on it were two names.
DANTE VALENTE
SIENNA MORETTI
Below them:
COME GET MARRIED, OR MARCO DIES.
Sienna stared.
May you like
“But my father is upstairs.”
A gunshot echoed from the medical wing.
