Chapter 9 - THE TRUTH
The silence in the conservatory was deafening.
The only sound was the heavy breathing of the Rossi thugs pinned to the floor by Daniel’s men.
Vanessa stared at Teresa, her face completely drained of blood.
“You’re supposed to be in Milwaukee,” Vanessa whispered.
“She’s right where she belongs,” Luca said.
He walked slowly around the table until he was standing directly in front of his fiancée.
He didn’t yell. He didn’t scream.
He simply destroyed her.
“Vanessa Bellini,” Luca announced, his voice echoing off the glass walls. “Or should I say, Vanessa Rossi.”
The guests gasped.
Vanessa stumbled backward, hitting the edge of the table.
“That’s right,” Luca looked at the crowd. “My beautiful bride isn’t the daughter of a New York investment banker. She’s the niece of the Rossi crime family. Sent here to infiltrate my home, steal my family’s deeds, and destroy the only people I love.”
He threw the fake GPS pocket watch onto the table. It shattered, revealing the blinking red light inside.
“You thought you were so clever,” Luca said, his dark eyes fixed on Vanessa. “You thought insulting my aunt would make her run away quietly. You thought you could rob my safe while everyone was distracted by the fight you provoked with my housekeeper.”
Vanessa was shaking violently. “Luca, please—”
“But you made one mistake,” Luca interrupted.
He walked over to where I was holding little Leo.
Luca dropped to one knee. He gently cupped the terrified boy’s face.
“You brought him here,” Luca whispered, tears filling his eyes.
He looked back at Vanessa.
“You knew my brother Matteo had a son. You hid him in an orphanage on the South Side to use as leverage against your own uncle when your debts got too high.”
Luca stood up, his massive frame radiating pure fury.
“You used a child’s life to steal from me.”
“I had to!” Vanessa shrieked, the polished facade finally shattering. “You have no idea what it’s like to be owned by them! I needed your money to buy my freedom!”
“You are going to have plenty of freedom,” Luca said coldly.
Right on cue, the wail of police sirens echoed up the long driveway.
Daniel hadn’t just brought security. He had brought the Feds.
The Rossi men cursed as Chicago police officers swarmed the conservatory, slapping handcuffs on them.
Two female officers approached Vanessa.
“Wait!” she screamed as they grabbed her arms. “Luca, you can’t do this! I love you!”
Luca didn’t even look at her.
He turned to Aunt Teresa.
He held out his arm.
Teresa smiled through her tears, taking his elbow.
Luca led her to the head of the table. He pulled out his own chair—the seat of honor.
“Sit, Aunt Teresa,” Luca said softly. “This is your family. This is your table.”
As the police dragged a screaming Vanessa out of the room, the remaining guests stood in stunned silence.
Luca turned to the crowd.
“The wedding is canceled,” he announced firmly. “Please leave my home.”
Within ten minutes, the estate was empty.
Only the family remained.
Leo was sitting on Teresa’s lap, finally eating a piece of chocolate cake, safe in the arms of his great-aunt.
Luca walked over to me.
My shoulder was throbbing, and my uniform was ruined, but I had never felt stronger.
“Julia,” Luca said, his voice thick with emotion.
He reached out and gently touched my uninjured shoulder.
“You protected my nephew. You saved my aunt. You risked your mother’s life for my family.”
I looked into his dark eyes.
“You protected my mother, Mr. Moretti. You didn’t let them win.”
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Luca smiled. It was the first genuine, unburdened smile I had ever seen on his face.
“Come to my study tomorrow morning,” he said softly. “We have a lot to talk about.”
