Chapter 11 - The Trap Sprung at the Grand Gala of the Chicago Heritage Foundation
BANG!
The shot echoed off the stainless steel shelves—but the bullet didn't hit me.
In the fraction of a second before Vanessa fired, Luca kicked the heavy metal pantry door inward with bone-crushing force, slamming the steel edge directly into Vanessa’s arm.
The gun discharged wildly into the concrete ceiling, raining plaster dust onto the floor.
Vanessa screamed in pain as the revolver flew from her grip and skidded across the tiles.
Luca stepped into the room, his eyes blazing with fury. He caught Vanessa by the throat, pinning her against the wall with one hand.
“Did you really think you could walk into my territory again, Vanessa?” Luca whispered, his voice vibrating with deadly authority.
Vanessa gasped for air, clawing at his iron grip. “Luca... please...”
Marco entered the room, scooping up the dropped firearm and securing it in an evidence bag.
Behind him stood two high-ranking Federal Bureau of Investigation agents.
“Vanessa Bellini,” Special Agent Harris announced, holding up a federal warrant. “You are under arrest for attempted murder, conspiracy to commit arson, corporate forgery, and interstate bank fraud.”
Luca released his grip, stepping back in disgust as the federal agents snapped heavy steel handcuffs around Vanessa’s wrists.
Vanessa looked at Luca, tears of pure defeat streaming down her ruined face.
“Luca... please don't let them take me! My father is old, he won't survive prison!”
“Your father was arrested an hour ago at O’Hare trying to board a private jet to Panama,” Luca said coldly. “You both will spend the rest of your lives behind bars.”
Vanessa was dragged out through the back door into the pouring rain, her screams swallowed by the distant sirens of the Chicago Police Department.
Luca turned toward me instantly.
He grabbed my face in his hands, his thumbs gently wiping dust from my cheeks.
“Did she hurt you, Emma? Tell me.”
I placed my hands over his, feeling the rapid beat of his pulse.
“I’m fine, Luca. Thanks to you.”
May you like
He looked into my eyes, his intense gaze softening into something deep, passionate, and real.
“I will spend the rest of my life protecting you, Emma. If you’ll let me.”
Related Stories
