Chapter 4 - The Widow’s Celebration
Vanessa Moretti stood beneath a crystal chandelier wearing black.
Nearly fifty guests filled the Moretti Foundation ballroom.
Adrian stood beside her.
A glass of champagne rested in his hand.
“To Dante.”
Glasses lifted.
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
“My husband believed family was everything.”
A voice came from the entrance.
“He did.”
The room froze.
Vanessa’s champagne glass slipped from her hand.
Dante Moretti walked inside.
Alive.
Marco followed with several loyal men.
Adrian went white.
Vanessa whispered, “Dante?”
Dante stopped beneath the chandelier.
“You look disappointed.”
“No.”
She stumbled backward.
“You’re alive.”
“Obviously.”
Adrian recovered first.
“This is incredible.”
Dante looked at him.
“Is it?”
Adrian forced a smile.
“We thought we lost you.”
“You almost did.”
Vanessa’s face changed.
Dante noticed.
“So did Cara Fields.”
Vanessa froze.
That was enough.
Dante smiled without warmth.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The moment you realized your waitress survived too.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
A door opened behind Dante.
Cara walked inside.
Dante’s expression immediately darkened.
He whispered to Marco, “Why is she here?”
Marco whispered back, “You try stopping her.”
Cara approached Vanessa.
Recognition flashed across Vanessa’s face.
“You.”
Cara nodded.
“Me.”
Vanessa looked around.
“She’s lying.”
“About what?” Dante asked.
Vanessa stopped.
Dante tilted his head.
“I never said what she accused you of.”
Silence.
Cara almost smiled.
Vanessa realized her mistake.
Adrian moved toward a side door.
Marco blocked him.
“Party isn’t over.”
Dante placed a recorder on the table.
“Bellini’s security system records audio in the private dining corridor.”
Vanessa stared at it.
Cara hadn’t known that.
Apparently neither had Vanessa.
Dante pressed play.
Vanessa’s voice filled the ballroom.
“The brakes?”
Adrian’s voice followed.
“Cut just enough.”
Vanessa whispered, “Turn it off.”
Dante didn’t.
“By midnight, I’ll be a grieving widow.”
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
Dante looked at Adrian.
“Eighteen million dollars.”
Adrian’s face tightened.
Dante continued.
“You stole from me, slept with my wife, and tried to kill me.”
Adrian suddenly laughed.
“You think everyone here still follows you?”
Dante looked around the ballroom.
Several men shifted.
Adrian smiled.
“This empire was already falling apart.”
Vanessa stepped beside him.
“You were becoming weak, Dante.”
Cara watched Dante.
He didn’t react.
Vanessa continued.
“You trusted employees. You started legitimizing businesses. You were dismantling everything your father built.”
“My father built fear.”
“And fear made us powerful.”
“No,” Dante replied. “Fear made us prisoners.”
Adrian looked toward three men near the wall.
“Now.”
Nobody moved.
His confidence vanished.
Marco smiled.
“Looking for them?”
The men stepped behind Dante.
Adrian stared.
Dante approached him.
“I knew about your plan before I walked into this room.”
Adrian backed away.
“How?”
Dante glanced at Cara.
“A waitress reminded me that arrogant people make mistakes.”
Cara folded her arms.
“You’re welcome.”
Even Dante’s men smiled.
Sirens sounded outside.
Vanessa looked toward the windows.
“You called the police?”
Dante nodded.
Her eyes widened.
“You never involve police.”
“Things change.”
“You’ll destroy the family.”
Dante looked at her.
“No.”
He stepped aside as investigators entered.
“You did that.”
Vanessa was escorted away first.
Adrian followed.
As he passed Cara, he stopped.
“This happened because of you.”
Dante immediately stepped between them.
“No.”
His voice dropped.
“This happened because you tried to murder me.”
Adrian was taken away.
The ballroom slowly emptied.
Cara looked at Dante.
“Well.”
“Well?”
“You’re alive. They’re arrested. I assume my job here is finished.”
Dante stared at her.
“You weren’t supposed to come.”
“I know.”
“You ignored a direct instruction.”
“Yes.”
“You could have been hurt.”
Cara smiled.
“You sound like my manager.”
“I’m beginning to sympathize with him.”
She laughed.
Then Dante said something that made her stop.
May you like
“Don’t leave yet.”
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