Chapter 14 - The Wedding
Carla called Luca.
No answer.
Music drowned out the vibration of his phone.
Downstairs, the ceremony began.
Camille stood before Massimo.
The officiant spoke about loyalty.
Commitment.
Trust.
Massimo almost admired the irony.
Nathan stood near the front.
Samuel watched from the opposite side.
Luca remained behind the guests, scanning the room.
Then every light in the mansion went out.
Screams erupted.
The emergency system activated.
Red backup lights washed across the ballroom.
Massimo did not move.
Dean.
Exactly as expected.
Six security guards reached beneath their jackets.
Luca shouted.
“Now.”
Massimo’s loyal men surrounded them.
The six infiltrators drew weapons.
Pulled triggers.
Nothing.
Empty mechanical clicks filled the room.
The guards stared at their guns in disbelief.
Luca smiled coldly.
“You should check your equipment before a wedding.”
They were disarmed within seconds.
Guests panicked.
Doors locked automatically.
Camille turned toward Massimo.
“What is happening?”
Massimo looked at her.
“Your wedding.”
Then he placed both hands on the wheelchair.
And stood.
The ballroom went silent.
Camille’s face emptied.
Nathan staggered backward.
Samuel closed his eyes as if savoring the moment.
Massimo straightened.
His right leg trembled.
He ignored it.
Camille whispered.
“No.”
Massimo looked at her.
“You’ve said that before.”
“You can’t…”
“I can.”
He took the cane Luca handed him.
Then stepped forward.
A murmur moved through the room.
Massimo faced the guests.
“Six months ago, I was shot.”
“Everyone in this room was told my spinal injury was permanent.”
“It wasn’t.”
Camille backed away.
Massimo continued.
“My medical records were falsified.”
“My medication was manipulated.”
“The attack on Brooklyn Avenue was arranged using my own security route.”
“And the woman standing beside me helped pay for it.”
Chaos erupted.
Camille’s face twisted.
“You’re insane.”
Massimo nodded toward the screens positioned for wedding photographs.
They lit up.
Footage appeared.
Camille inside the fourth SUV.
The attack unfolding ahead of her.
Guests gasped.
Nathan moved toward the exit.
Two investigators entered through the side doors.
Camille stared at the screen.
Massimo continued.
“Dean Foster supplied the route.”
“Camille Ashwood supplied the money.”
“Dr. Julian Hale manipulated my treatment.”
“And Nathan Ashwood prepared the trust documents designed to transfer control after my permanent incapacity.”
Nathan shouted.
“This is fabricated!”
Samuel stepped forward.
“It isn’t.”
He held up copies.
“And every original has already been secured outside this estate.”
Camille looked at Massimo.
For the first time, her elegance disappeared.
“You have no idea what you’ve done.”
Massimo’s expression stayed cold.
“I survived you.”
“That’s enough.”
Camille laughed.
Not pleasantly.
“You think this makes you noble?”
“You built your fortune through fear.”
“Your father ruined families.”
“Your grandfather buried men for less than what Dean did.”
“And now you want everyone to believe you’re different because a maid’s child made you sentimental?”
Carla, entering with Nina under heavy guard, heard the words.
Massimo looked toward them.
Then back at Camille.
“No.”
His voice became quieter.
“I’m different because I finally understood what men like my grandfather never did.”
“What?”
“Fear makes people obey.”
“It does not make them loyal.”
A gunshot sounded somewhere below the ballroom.
Guests screamed.
Luca turned.
“Dean.”
Massimo looked toward the service corridor.
Another shot.
Then another.
Dean had real ammunition.
He was moving toward the ballroom.
Camille suddenly smiled.
Massimo saw it.
“You knew.”
She said nothing.
“You knew he survived.”
Camille’s smile widened.
“You thought I came back because you asked nicely?”
Massimo’s stomach dropped.
The wedding had never been only a trap for Camille.
Camille had returned because she intended to use Dean one last time.
The side doors burst open.
Dean entered.
Blood stained his collar.
A pistol was in his hand.
He looked at Camille.
Then Massimo.
Then at the investigators.
“You.”
Dean pointed the gun at Camille.
“You set me up.”
Camille did not flinch.
“Of course I did.”
Dean laughed bitterly.
“Twelve years I waited to stop being someone’s second choice.”
“And I became yours.”
Camille’s eyes were cold.
“You were useful.”
Dean’s face changed.
Massimo recognized the danger immediately.
“Dean.”
Dean looked at him.
“Don’t.”
Dean laughed.
“Still giving orders?”
“For the first time, I’m giving you advice.”
Dean’s weapon shifted toward Camille.
“Put it down.”
Camille whispered.
“Shoot him.”
Dean looked between them.
For one fractured second, nobody moved.
Then Nathan ran.
Dean fired toward the ceiling.
Chaos exploded.
Camille lunged toward the side table where the trust papers waited.
Massimo moved after her.
His right leg buckled.
He hit one knee.
Carla screamed his name.
Dean turned.
Luca rushed him.
The weapon skidded away.
Camille grabbed a leather case and disappeared through the service door.
Massimo forced himself upright.
Luca shouted.
“Stay here!”
Massimo looked at the open door.
Inside that case was the final account key tying the Ashwoods to everything.
Camille was running.
Dean was fighting for control.
His legs were failing.
And Massimo had one choice.
Chase the woman who tried to steal his empire—
or protect the people still standing in the room.
He looked at Carla.
At Nina.
Then at Dean.
Massimo lowered the cane.
“Lock the estate.”
May you like
Camille would not escape.
Not this time.
