Chapter 9 - The Last Secret
Dante was missing for thirty-six hours.
Elena called everyone.
His attorney knew nothing.
His security chief claimed Dante had taken one man and flown east.
“Where?”
“I was told not to say.”
Elena’s anger overcame fear.
“Tell me.”
“Boston.”
She booked the next flight.
Dante was going to learn that disappearing without explanation was an exceptionally poor strategy for maintaining a relationship.
She found him at a cemetery.
He stood before another grave.
His father’s.
Elena stopped several yards away.
Dante turned.
He did not look surprised.
“You found me.”
“You left a trail a moderately intelligent golden retriever could follow.”
“I told them not to tell you.”
“They like me better.”
“That’s concerning.”
She approached.
“Thirty-six hours.”
“I know.”
“No phone call.”
“I know.”
“Five words?”
“I panicked.”
Elena stared at him.
“You, Dante Salvatore, panicked?”
“Yes.”
That ruined her prepared speech.
“Why?”
He looked toward his father’s grave.
“I found one more letter in safe 317.”
He handed it to her.
The letter was addressed to Dante.
His father had written it shortly before his death.
Son,
If Sofia is right and Vittorio has discovered what we planned, you may inherit something I never wanted you to carry. Do not mistake the empire for our family. Buildings can be sold. Money can disappear. Names can change.
Family is the person beside you when you no longer have anything impressive left to offer.
If you find that person, choose them.
Elena finished reading.
Dante stared at the grave.
“I spent my entire life believing my father wanted me to become him.”
“But he wanted you out.”
“Yes.”
“So why disappear?”
“Because I needed to say goodbye.”
“To him?”
“To all of it.”
He turned to her.
“And because I wanted to bring something back.”
A car waited near the cemetery entrance.
Dante opened the trunk.
Inside was an old wooden box.
He opened it.
Photographs.
Letters.
Sofia’s childhood drawings.
Family memories Vittorio had hidden in a Boston property.
Dante lifted a photograph of himself at twelve, Sofia beside him, both laughing.
Elena had never seen him look so young.
“She loved you.”
“Yes.”
“You know none of this was your fault?”
He was silent.
“Dante.”
“I’m working on it.”
“That’s acceptable.”
They returned to Chicago together.
Three weeks later, Elena received an invitation.
Cream cardstock.
Gold lettering.
For one terrible second, she was back at the Meridian Grand.
Then she read it.
Ms. Elena Reyes is requested at dinner.
Friday.
7:00 p.m.
Dress: whatever you want.
Transportation: absolutely not three buses.
Elena laughed.
At seven Friday, a car took her to the Meridian Grand.
Dante waited in the same hallway where they had collided.
He wore a dark suit.
No bodyguards.
No audience.
“What are we doing here?”
“Correcting a memory.”
He led her toward the ballroom.
The doors opened.
Empty.
No chandeliers blazing.
No crowd.
Only soft lights and a small table for two.
“You rented the ballroom?”
“Yes.”
“That is absurd.”
“Yes.”
They ate dinner where Marcus and Vivien had once held their reception.
After dessert, Dante stood.
Elena’s heart began pounding.
He extended his hand.
She took it.
He led her to the exact spot where he had first walked her back into the room.
“You told me to wait.”
“I did.”
“I waited.”
“Technically.”
“I’ve learned patience.”
“Debatable.”
He smiled.
Then became serious.
“The first time I asked you to marry me, I wanted something.”
“Revenge.”
“Information. Control. Maybe revenge.”
“Very romantic.”
“I was terrible at this.”
“You’ve improved.”
“I hope so.”
He took the ring box from his pocket.
This time Elena did not stop him.
“I don’t want you because standing beside you makes me powerful.”
His voice lowered.
“I want you because you were the first person who made me understand I didn’t need power to know who I was.”
Elena’s eyes filled.
“I don’t need you to save me.”
“I know.”
“I don’t need your money.”
“I know.”
“And if Patricia Aldridge ever puts me in the back row again—”
“I will buy the building.”
Elena laughed through her tears.
“No.”
“Sorry. Old habits.”
Dante lowered himself to one knee.
“Elena Reyes, will you marry me when there is nobody watching, nobody to humiliate, nobody to impress, and absolutely nothing for either of us to gain except each other?”
She looked at him.
At the man who had once offered revenge.
At the man who had eventually chosen freedom.
“Yes.”
His eyes closed briefly.
Relief.
Real relief.
Then Elena added, “But there’s one condition.”
Dante looked alarmed.
“What?”
“No wedding at the Meridian Grand.”
He laughed.
“Agreed.”
They kissed.
Neither noticed the ballroom door opening.
Isabel stood there.
Behind her were Dante’s security chief, Marcus, and even Vivien.
Elena broke the kiss.
“You said nobody was watching!”
Dante looked genuinely offended.
“I specifically told them not to come.”
Isabel shrugged.
“You expected me to miss this?”
Elena laughed.
Then she saw Vivien.
The former friends looked at one another.
Vivien approached slowly.
“I won’t stay.”
Elena said nothing.
“I just wanted to give you something.”
She held out a small velvet pouch.
Inside was Elena’s grandmother’s engagement ring.
Elena stopped breathing.
“Where did you get this?”
“Marcus gave it to me after your engagement ended.”
Elena looked at him.
Marcus stared at the floor.
Vivien continued.
“I kept it because I knew it mattered to you.”
“Why?”
Vivien’s eyes filled.
“Because even when I was trying to take everything from you, some part of me knew there were things I had no right to own.”
Elena closed her hand around the ring.
“Thank you.”
It was not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But it was the beginning of something less poisonous than hatred.
May you like
Dante slipped his hand into Elena’s.
And for the first time, the ballroom held no ghosts.
