She Entered The Wrong Bedroom At A Billionaire Gala — Then Woke Up Next To Chicago’s Most Feared Mafia Boss With A Ring On Her Finger.
PART 11
“No. Standing in a room where everyone finally sees what you are makes me powerful.”
His hand moved toward his jacket.
Dominic pulled me behind him.
Gunfire exploded near the west doors.
The first shots struck the ceiling as guards tackled the gunmen. Guests screamed and dropped behind tables. Chandeliers trembled. Glass shattered across the floor.
Dominic pushed me toward a marble pillar.
“Stay down.”
A Marino soldier emerged from behind the stage.
I saw the weapon before Dominic did.
“Dominic!”
I grabbed his jacket and pulled.
The shot missed his shoulder by inches.
Matteo tackled the shooter.
Dominic turned and covered me with his body.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Stay here.”
He started toward Gabriel.
I caught his hand.
“You promised.”
His face was transformed by fury.
“He tried to kill you.”
“You promised no revenge.”
For one terrible moment, I did not know which Dominic would win.
Then he lowered the gun he had drawn.
Police sirens screamed outside.
The ballroom doors opened again, this time revealing federal agents and tactical officers. Castelli guards placed their weapons on the floor according to the plan.
Gabriel Marino dragged Victoria against his chest and pressed a gun beneath her jaw.
The room became still.
“You brought the government into this,” Gabriel snarled at Dominic.
“You brought war into my home.”
“Tell them to leave.”
“I cannot.”
“Then she dies.”
Victoria squeezed her eyes shut.
Her father’s hand trembled.
I stepped from behind the pillar.
Dominic caught my arm.
“Harper, no.”
“Gabriel,” I said. “Look at me.”
His gaze snapped toward me.
“You ruined everything.”
“No. Leo gave Dominic the estate plans. Your people sent the messages. You brought armed men into this ballroom. Every choice was yours.”
“Be quiet.”
“You spent your life convincing everyone that fear was respect.”
His grip tightened around Victoria.
“You know nothing about me.”
“I knew a man like you.”
Leo’s face flashed through my mind.
“He told me I was worthless because he needed me weak. You told Victoria she was loyal because you needed her obedient.”
Victoria opened her eyes.
I kept speaking.
“But she knows the truth now.”
Gabriel pressed the weapon closer.
“She is my daughter.”
“She is not your property.”
His face twisted.
Dominic took one careful step.
Gabriel swung the gun toward him.
Victoria reacted.
She drove her heel down onto her father’s foot and threw herself aside. A tactical officer fired once, striking Gabriel in the shoulder.
The gun fell.
Within seconds, agents had him on the floor.
The ballroom filled with shouted commands.
I stood frozen until Dominic reached me.
He held my face between both hands.
“Tell me you’re all right.”
“I’m all right.”
He pulled me against him.
His heart hammered beneath my cheek.
Across the room, Victoria sat against a pillar while a medic checked her wrist. Nonna Rosa had already wrapped a blanket around her shoulders.
Federal agents escorted Gabriel and his men from the ballroom.
Dominic watched them go.
“They will investigate me next,” he said.
“I know.”
“My businesses. My accounts. Everything.”
“I know.”
“I may lose most of what my family built.”
I looked at the shattered glass, overturned tables, and terrified faces around us.
“Perhaps some things should not be rebuilt.”
He nodded slowly.
Then he reached inside his jacket and removed our contract.
The pages were creased from being carried against his chest.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
He tore them in half.
“The arrangement is over.”
My stomach dropped.
“Because of the investigation?”
“Because you were right.”
He let the pieces fall.
“Protection without choice is control. I will not become another man who teaches you that love requires surrender.”
The word hung between us.
Love.
“You love me?”
Dominic’s mouth curved sadly.
“I loved you when you argued about the definition of hostage. I loved you when you brought a hostile orange animal into my home. I loved you when you forced me to see that loyalty without conscience is only another form of cowardice.”
Barnaby would have appreciated being included.
Dominic removed the antique ring from my finger.