Chapter 12 - The Ring and the Betrayal|
For one impossible moment, the entire world went silent.
Massimo knelt before me holding a small velvet box.
Inside was a diamond ring surrounded by tiny emerald stones.
It was beautiful.
But what made my chest ache wasn't the jewelry.
It was the expression on his face.
He looked terrified.
The most feared man in Chicago was afraid of my answer.
"Sophie Miller," he said.
"Will you marry me?"
Cameras flashed.
Someone gasped.
Rosa began crying.
I could barely breathe.
This wasn't part of our arrangement.
We hadn't rehearsed it.
We hadn't discussed it.
And yet, when I looked into his eyes, I knew he meant every word.
I knelt in front of him.
The crowd murmured.
"Massimo," I whispered.
His face tightened.
"You don't have to answer."
I shook my head.
"You're impossible."
A nervous laugh escaped him.
"I've heard that."
"You're arrogant."
"Also true."
"Controlling."
"I'm working on it."
"And your family is completely insane."
From somewhere behind us, Rosa shouted, "We heard that!"
The room erupted in laughter.
I smiled through my tears.
"But you're also the first man who has ever made me feel safe without making me feel small."
Massimo's expression softened.
"And I love you too."
His breath caught.
I touched his face.
"Yes."
The crowd exploded.
Massimo slipped the ring onto my finger.
Then he stood and kissed me.
It was gentle.
Careful.
A question rather than a demand.
I answered by wrapping my arms around his neck.
For a few beautiful seconds, nothing else mattered.
Not the threats.
Not the scandal.
Not the secrets.
Just us.
Then a gunshot shattered the moment.
The sound came from the far side of the reception hall.
People screamed.
Massimo immediately pulled me down behind the platform.
Security rushed toward the disturbance.
A chandelier trembled overhead.
Someone shouted for everyone to get on the floor.
Massimo shielded me with his body.
"Stay down!"
I grabbed his jacket.
"What's happening?"
He looked toward the crowd.
"Marco!"
His head of security appeared.
"Boss, we have a situation."
"Who fired?"
"One of the private guards."
"At whom?"
Marco hesitated.
Then he said something that made Massimo go completely still.
"Vittorio."
I stared.
"Your uncle?"
Marco nodded.
"He's been hit."
Massimo stood carefully.
I followed despite his protest.
Across the hall, Vittorio lay on the floor surrounded by security personnel.
Blood stained his white shirt.
A frightened young guard stood nearby, his weapon already secured by police officers assigned to the event.
Detective Brooks pushed through the crowd.
"Nobody leaves!"
Massimo approached his uncle.
Vittorio's breathing was shallow.
He looked up.
For the first time, the older man seemed genuinely frightened.
"Massimo."
Massimo crouched beside him.
"Who did this?"
Vittorio swallowed.
"Carlo."
My stomach dropped.
"Carlo Vitali?"
Vittorio nodded weakly.
"He knows."
"Knows what?"
Vittorio grabbed Massimo's sleeve.
"The files."
Massimo leaned closer.
"What files?"
Vittorio's voice broke.
"The original files aren't in the greenhouse."
I froze.
"Then where are they?"
He looked directly at me.
"Your father hid them where nobody would ever think to look."
My heart pounded.
"Where?"
Vittorio struggled to breathe.
Then he whispered three words.
"Under the flowers."
His hand fell.
Paramedics rushed forward.
Massimo stood slowly.
I grabbed his arm.
"Massimo."
He looked at me.
"He's talking about my shop."
"How do you know?"
I swallowed.
"Because my father built a raised flowerbed behind the counter."
Massimo's expression changed.
"He always said the soil beneath it was special."
Detective Brooks approached.
"We need to get Vittorio to the hospital."
Massimo nodded.
Then Brooks looked at me.
"Miss Miller, you're coming with me."
I frowned.
"Why?"
She hesitated.
"Because the guard who fired the shot just made a statement."
My stomach tightened.
"What statement?"
Brooks looked grim.
"He says Carlo Vitali ordered him to shoot Vittorio."
"Then arrest Carlo."
"We're trying."
She lowered her voice.
"But the guard also claims someone inside this room helped coordinate the attack."
I looked around.
Rosa was crying.
Isabella stood beside her.
Adriana was speaking urgently into her phone.
Then I noticed something.
Hannah.
My best friend.
My business partner.
The woman I'd trusted for nearly ten years.
She was standing near the exit.
And in her hand was a black phone I'd never seen before.
May you like
She looked directly at me.
Then she ran.
