Chapter 7 - THE DARK CHAPEL
Emergency lights flashed red.
A crash sounded near the side door.
Someone ran.
Dominic pursued.
Matteo kept Mia against his chest until the generator kicked in.
The steel box was open.
Marco’s flash drive was gone.
“Elena?”
She checked her hand.
The letter was still there.
So were the paper records.
Whoever entered had wanted the digital files.
Dominic returned five minutes later.
“Lost him in the garden.”
“Camera?”
“Cut.”
Matteo swore.
“You don’t know who you’re fighting.”
Matteo stood across from her in the library.
“Then tell me.”
“Vittorio controls people you think work for you.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know all of them.”
“Security?”
“Yes.”
“Board members?”
“Yes.”
“Wedding staff?”
“Yes.”
Matteo leaned forward.
“And you?”
Her eyes met his.
“Yes.”
Elena stood near the doorway with Sofia.
Matteo asked, “Did you marry me for him?”
“We’re not married.”
“You know what I mean.”
Bianca looked down.
“At first, I was supposed to get close.”
“At first?”
“I didn’t expect to care about you.”
Matteo laughed once.
“You threatened a mother with her child.”
Bianca flinched.
“I panicked.”
“You grabbed her.”
“She heard too much.”
“That is not panic. That is a choice.”
Bianca started crying.
“Vittorio said if I failed, he would expose my father.”
“Your father is alive?”
She shook her head.
“No. But he left debts. Records. Things that could destroy my family.”
Matteo stared at her.
“Your family? Elena’s daughter was six feet away.”
Bianca wiped her face.
Then whispered, “You still don’t understand.”
“What?”
“The wedding wasn’t the deadline.”
Matteo waited.
Bianca looked toward the clock.
“The deadline is tomorrow morning.”
May you like
“Why?”
“Because at nine o’clock, Vittorio becomes chairman if you are medically unable to attend the board vote.”
