Chapter 5 - The Wedding Trap
Dominic did not cancel the wedding.
By noon the next day, Chicago society believed nothing had changed.
Flowers entered Saint Michael’s.
Security closed surrounding streets.
Politicians arrived.
Businessmen arrived.
Men who had ordered killings arrived beside wives wearing diamonds.
Vittorio Vale stood near the altar.
Carlo Bellini greeted guests.
Both believed Dominic was still trapped.
They were wrong.
Elena sat in a secure room beneath the cathedral with Sofia, Daniel, Alessandra’s sister, and two federal investigators contacted through the retired detective.
The investigators did not trust Dominic.
Dominic did not care.
They trusted evidence.
That was enough.
The flash drive had been copied twelve times.
One copy went to federal prosecutors.
One to a newspaper.
One to a judge outside Illinois.
The others would automatically release if Dominic failed to enter a code every hour.
Elena’s idea.
“You really planned for my death efficiently,” Dominic told her.
“I’m your assistant.”
He smiled.
She did not.
“You could still leave.”
“No.”
“Dominic.”
“No.”
“If they realize—”
“They will.”
She looked at him.
He adjusted his cuff.
For the first time since he met her, Elena seemed unable to find the right words.
Finally she said, “Come back.”
Dominic looked at her.
Not survive.
Not win.
Come back.
“I will.”
He entered the cathedral.
Vittorio smiled.
“You look tired.”
“Big day.”
Carlo shook his hand.
Alessandra walked down the aisle.
She looked beautiful.
She also looked terrified.
Dominic met her at the altar.
The priest began.
The ceremony moved forward.
Dominic watched Vittorio.
His uncle appeared calm.
Until the priest reached the vows.
Dominic turned toward the guests.
“I’m afraid there’s been a change.”
Whispers spread.
Vittorio stood.
“Dominic.”
Dominic removed a small remote.
The cathedral screens—installed for wedding photographs—turned on.
Salvatore Vale appeared.
Gasps filled the church.
Vittorio’s face became white.
The recording played.
Confessions.
Names.
Dates.
Transactions.
Carlo moved toward an exit.
Federal agents entered.
Doors closed.
Chaos erupted.
Dominic remained at the altar.
Vittorio stared at him.
“You stupid boy.”
Dominic smiled.
“I’m thirty-eight.”
“You destroyed everything.”
“No. You did.”
Vittorio looked toward the screen.
“You think your father was a hero?”
“No.”
That answer surprised him.
“He was a criminal who finally tried to stop.”
Dominic stepped down.
“That doesn’t erase what he did.”
Vittorio’s expression twisted.
“You sound like her.”
“Elena?”
“Valentina.”
Dominic stopped.
Vittorio laughed.
“She poisoned Salvatore against his own blood.”
“She showed him what you were.”
“I made this family!”
“You murdered your brother.”
Vittorio’s face changed.
Several phones were recording.
Dominic saw the realization.
Too late.
Vittorio had effectively confessed.
Agents moved toward him.
Then a gunshot exploded.
People screamed.
Carlo Bellini had drawn a concealed pistol.
He grabbed Alessandra.
Dominic moved.
Carlo pointed the weapon at her head.
“Back!”
Dominic stopped.
Alessandra’s eyes were steady.
“Dad.”
“Quiet.”
“You lost.”
“I said quiet!”
Vittorio used the confusion to run.
Dominic saw him disappear through the sacristy door.
He had to choose.
Carlo.
Or Vittorio.
Alessandra whispered, “Go.”
Dominic hesitated.
She drove her heel into her father’s foot.
Carlo flinched.
Agents tackled him.
Dominic ran.
He entered the sacristy.
Empty.
Back door open.
He ran outside.
A black sedan disappeared around the corner.
Vittorio escaped.
Dominic called Elena.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
His stomach dropped.
He called Daniel.
Daniel answered.
“Dominic—”
“What happened?”
“He came through the lower tunnel.”
“Who?”
Daniel did not need to answer.
Dominic already knew.
“Where is Elena?”
“He took her.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“And Sofia?”
“Safe.”
Relief lasted half a second.
Then Daniel added:
“Vittorio left something for you.”
“What?”
“A wedding invitation.”
Dominic returned below the cathedral.
The invitation lay on Elena’s chair.
Her blood marked one corner.
On the back, Vittorio had written an address.
Dominic recognized it immediately.
Lake Geneva.
The house from the photograph.
May you like
Underneath were five words.
COME FINISH WHAT SALVATORE STARTED.
