Chapter 6 – THE WEDDING DRESS
The next morning, the penthouse was buzzing with silent efficiency.
Daniel and three bodyguards had fortified the floor. My mother was resting on the sofa, watching cartoons with Leo, while Bruno slept contentedly at their feet.
I stood in the guest bedroom, staring at myself in the floor-to-ceiling mirror.
I was no longer wearing a torn maid’s uniform.
Luca had sent a seamstress early in the morning. I was dressed in a sleek, midnight-blue evening gown. My hair was swept up, and the scrape on my shoulder was carefully covered by a silk shawl.
I didn’t look like Emma Collins, the server. I looked like a woman who belonged in Luca’s world.
The door clicked open. Luca stepped in.
He was wearing a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. He looked breathtaking, dangerous, and completely untouchable.
He stopped when he saw me. For a long moment, the ruthless boss disappeared, replaced by a man genuinely struck by what was in front of him.
“You look…” He cleared his throat. “You look beautiful, Emma.”
“I look like a target,” I said nervously, clutching the silk shawl.
He walked slowly toward me, stopping just inches away. He reached into his tuxedo pocket and pulled out a delicate diamond necklace.
“Turn around,” he instructed softly.
I turned. He swept my hair aside, his fingers brushing against my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. He clasped the cold diamonds around my throat.
“You are under my protection,” Luca whispered near my ear. “Today, you don’t serve anyone. You walk into that cathedral, and you stand tall.”
I turned back to face him, our chests almost touching. “What happens when she sees me, Luca? She tried to blow up my apartment. If she sees I’m alive…”
“She will panic,” Luca finished for me. “And when people like Vanessa panic, they make mistakes.”
He checked his watch. 1:00 p.m.
The ceremony was at two.
“The news of your apartment building hasn’t hit the press yet,” Luca explained, stepping back. “I had my men intercept the police scanners. We bribed the responding officers to keep it quiet. Vanessa believes her man handled it, but she’s waiting for confirmation.”
“And the man who planted the bomb?”
“He’s currently in the trunk of Daniel’s car,” Luca said coldly. “He was very cooperative after a brief conversation.”
A chill ran through me, a stark reminder of who Luca really was. But looking at him now, I didn’t feel afraid. I felt safe.
We left the penthouse at 1:30 p.m.
My mother and Leo stayed behind under heavy guard.
The drive to the Holy Name Cathedral was a blur of anxiety. The streets were lined with expensive cars and private security. The entire Chicago mafia, along with the Bellini syndicate from New York, was inside.
“Ready?” Luca asked as the SUV idled by the side entrance.
“No,” I admitted.
He smiled, a genuine, warm expression. He took my hand and squeezed it. “Good. Use the fear.”
He stepped out and walked toward the front entrance to play his part as the waiting groom.
I slipped through the side door with Daniel.
The cathedral was magnificent, echoing with organ music and the murmurs of four hundred dangerous guests. I waited in the shadows near the sacristy.
At exactly 2:00 p.m., the music changed.
The massive wooden doors at the back opened.
Vanessa Bellini stepped into the aisle.
She wore a custom white lace gown, dripping in diamonds, a triumphant smile plastered on her face. She looked like a queen stepping up to claim her throne.
She walked slowly down the aisle, soaking in the admiration.
Luca stood at the altar, his face unreadable.
As Vanessa reached the front, she handed her bouquet to her maid of honor and turned to smile at Luca.
“You look handsome, darling,” she whispered, her voice carrying slightly in the quiet church.
“You look victorious, Vanessa,” Luca replied loudly enough for the front rows to hear.
Her smile faltered slightly. “It’s our wedding day. Of course I am.”
The priest stepped forward to begin, but Luca raised a hand, stopping him.
A murmur rippled through the pews. The Bellini family patriarchs in the front row shifted uncomfortably.
“Before we begin,” Luca’s voice echoed through the cathedral, deep and commanding. “My bride was very concerned about my staff last night. She was worried about a young maid who scratched her shoulder.”
Vanessa’s face went completely white.
“I just wanted to assure you, my love,” Luca said, his eyes locking onto hers with terrifying intensity. “She’s perfectly fine.”
Luca nodded toward the sacristy.
My heart hammered against my ribs.
I stepped out of the shadows and walked directly up the altar steps.
The entire cathedral gasped.
Vanessa stumbled backward, stepping on her own dress. Her eyes were wide with pure, unfiltered terror as she stared at me—the woman she thought she had murdered twelve hours ago.
“Emma?” she choked out, dropping her perfect facade.
“Hello, Vanessa,” I said clearly. “I think you have something that belongs to my family.”
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