Chapter 5 - The Wedding Trap
Saturday arrived under a sky the color of steel.
The cathedral was filled with flowers, cameras, politicians, Moretti associates, federal agents posing as guests—and several people who believed Lorenzo would never leave the building alive.
Vivien stood behind closed doors wearing ivory silk.
Marco adjusted his cuff links nearby.
“You can still walk away.”
Vivien looked at him.
“Lorenzo sent you to say that?”
“Three times.”
“Tell him to stop asking.”
Marco smiled.
“He knew you'd say that.”
The doors opened.
Lorenzo waited at the altar.
Black tuxedo.
Dark hair pushed back.
Tattoo visible above his collar.
His expression remained controlled until he saw Vivien.
Then, briefly, the mafia boss disappeared.
There was only a man staring at a woman he hadn't expected to matter.
Vivien reached him.
“You look nervous.”
“I've been shot at with less concern.”
“Romantic.”
“I'm improving.”
The officiant began.
Halfway through the ceremony, Lorenzo’s gaze shifted.
Vivien noticed.
“What?”
“Third row.”
She didn't turn.
“Who?”
“Gray tie.”
“Federal?”
“No.”
Vivien kept smiling for the cameras.
“What do we do?”
“Continue.”
The officiant asked the question.
“Do you, Vivien Hastings—”
A phone began ringing somewhere among the guests.
Then another.
Then five more.
Marco moved.
Federal agents stood simultaneously.
The man in the gray tie bolted toward a side exit.
He never reached it.
Agents intercepted him before he cleared the aisle.
Chaos erupted.
Guests shouted.
Cameras flashed.
Vivien grabbed Lorenzo's arm.
“Was that him?”
“One of them.”
Marco approached.
“We've got three more outside. The communications intercept worked.”
Lorenzo nodded.
“Arthur?”
Marco’s expression changed.
Vivien saw it.
“What about my father?”
“He's here.”
Her stomach dropped.
“Where?”
A voice came from behind them.
“Vivien.”
She turned.
Arthur Hastings stood near the vestry entrance.
Two federal agents immediately moved toward him.
Arthur raised his hands.
“I'm not armed.”
Vivien looked at Lorenzo.
“Let me talk to him.”
“Vivien—”
“My decision.”
Lorenzo paused.
Then stepped back.
Arthur looked older than he had three days earlier.
“I wanted to see you.”
“You saw me.”
“I made mistakes.”
“You made choices.”
His jaw tightened.
“I was trying to protect everything I'd built.”
“And I was one of the things you were willing to spend.”
Arthur looked down.
“I never thought it would go this far.”
Vivien nodded.
“That sentence is probably going to follow you for a long time.”
Agents approached.
Arthur looked at Lorenzo.
“You think he's different?”
Vivien answered before Lorenzo could.
“I don't know yet.”
Lorenzo looked at her.
Vivien continued.
“But that's the difference. I'm allowed to decide.”
Arthur was escorted away.
The cathedral slowly quieted.
The officiant nervously cleared his throat.
“Should we… continue?”
Vivien looked at Lorenzo.
Their ceremony had only ever been supposed to be bait.
The operation was over.
They no longer needed to finish.
Lorenzo leaned close.
“You're free to walk away.”
Vivien studied him.
Then she turned to the officiant.
May you like
“Give us five minutes.”
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