Chapter 9 - The Wedding Resumes
Three Marconi men moved toward Matteo.
He did not resist.
That bothered Giulietta immediately.
“Really?” he said. “This is your play?”
Enzo took his phone and weapon.
Preston stepped backward from the altar.
“You just married me.”
“No.” Giulietta tore the false license in half. “I performed for whoever is watching.”
Preston’s face collapsed.
Warren stood so fast his chair tipped over.
“What did you do?”
“I kept my brother alive.”
Enzo listened to his earpiece.
“Raid team entering hostage location now.”
Giulietta watched Matteo.
“Anything you want to tell me before they find Luca?”
“You’re arresting the wrong man.”
“Your people walked him out.”
“They used my old pins.”
“Your company paid Keller.”
“My father’s dead account opened the room.”
Matteo smiled without warmth.
“That last sentence should bother you more than the others.”
A burst of static came through Enzo’s radio.
“Team one to Bellini. Site secure.”
Giulietta grabbed the handset.
“Luca?”
Silence.
Then:
“Negative.”
Her stomach tightened.
“What do you mean negative?”
“Chair is here. Blood is here. Camera is here. Hostage is gone.”
Matteo laughed once.
Giulietta crossed the space between them and hit him in the ribs.
He folded, then straightened slowly.
“I told you.”
“You know where he is.”
“No.”
“Then why are you smiling?”
“Because whoever planned this counted on you reacting before thinking.”
Preston muttered, “He’s right.”
Giulietta turned on him.
“Careful.”
The ballroom lights flickered.
A crash thundered from below.
Enzo’s radio erupted with overlapping voices.
“Vehicle breach! Garage level!”
Giulietta ran.
Her dress tore further as she took the stairs two at a time.
The underground garage smelled of burned rubber and concrete dust.
A black sedan had smashed through the security barrier and stopped sideways against a pillar.
Marconi men surrounded it.
“Hold fire!” Giulietta shouted.
The rear door opened.
Luca fell onto the pavement.
Alive.
Barely standing.
Giulietta reached him first.
He grabbed her coat with both hands.
“Easy.”
“They moved me.”
“I know.”
His eyes found Matteo being brought down the ramp in restraints.
Luca shook his head violently.
“No.”
“What?”
“Matteo didn’t take me.”
Giulietta bent closer.
Luca’s lips were split. His pupils were wide.
“Who did?”
He swallowed blood.
“Dad.”
Giulietta stared at him.
Luca squeezed her sleeve.
May you like
“Dad took me.”
