Chapter 8 - THE ENGAGEMENT THAT BROKE CHLOE’S HEART
Victor was released seventy-two hours later.
The federal case collapsed almost as quickly as it had appeared.
Mrs. Gable’s records established Victor had been outside the country.
Samuel Pierce’s files proved the evidence against him had been manufactured.
But release did not mean victory.
Senator Michael Grant went on national television and called the documents “fabrications manufactured by organized criminals.”
Luca disappeared again.
Three witnesses vanished.
Two federal agents resigned.
And someone firebombed one of Victor’s warehouses.
The war was no longer hidden.
Victor returned to the estate shortly after midnight.
Chloe waited in the foyer.
So did Tommy.
Mrs. Gable stood discreetly at the staircase.
Marco remained near the door.
Victor walked inside.
Tommy reached him first.
The fifteen-year-old hugged him.
Victor froze.
Then slowly hugged him back.
“You look terrible,” Tommy said.
Victor glanced down.
“So do you.”
“I have kidney failure.”
“I spent three days in federal detention.”
Tommy considered.
“Fine. Tie.”
Chloe laughed.
Victor looked up.
Their eyes met.
Everything else disappeared.
He crossed the foyer.
Stopped in front of her.
“You stayed.”
“You told me to leave.”
“Yes.”
“So naturally I stayed.”
Victor smiled.
Then Chloe slapped him.
Again.
Marco muttered, “I’m starting a chart.”
Victor touched his cheek.
“What was that for?”
“For not telling me you were supposed to meet my father.”
“I didn’t know his name.”
“You knew there was a source.”
“Yes.”
“You could have told me.”
“I should have.”
She stared.
The simple admission took the anger out of her.
Victor said quietly, “I’m sorry.”
Chloe’s eyes filled.
She threw her arms around him.
Victor held her.
Hard.
For several moments, nobody in the foyer pretended not to watch.
Mrs. Gable eventually said, “I’ll have tea prepared.”
Marco said, “I suddenly need to inspect the driveway.”
Tommy said, “This is disgusting.”
They vanished.
Victor lifted Chloe’s chin.
“I missed you.”
Her heart stopped.
“Victor Russo missed someone?”
“Apparently.”
“That sounds serious.”
“It may be terminal.”
She smiled.
He kissed her.
This kiss was different from the warehouse.
Slower.
No gunfire waiting.
No goodbye hidden inside it.
His hand rested against her cheek.
Chloe leaned into him.
For the first time, Victor kissed someone without wondering what she wanted from him.
He knew.
Nothing.
That was why he wanted to give her everything.
And that was exactly why what happened the next morning hurt so much.
Salvatore DeLuca arrived unannounced.
With Francesca.
Victor met them in the library.
Chloe was not invited.
Naturally, she listened from the hallway.
Salvatore placed a newspaper on Victor’s desk.
Grant’s face covered the front page.
“Your evidence won’t survive,” Salvatore said.
“It will.”
“You’re fighting politicians with paper.”
“Paper has destroyed more powerful men than bullets.”
“Not these men.”
Victor leaned back.
“What do you want?”
“An alliance.”
“No.”
Salvatore gestured toward Francesca.
“Marriage.”
Victor’s face hardened.
Francesca spoke before he could.
“I don’t want you either.”
Victor almost laughed.
“That improves the proposal.”
She rolled her eyes.
“My father believes public unity between our families gives us enough political protection to bring Grant down.”
Salvatore continued.
“Half the city believes you’re unstable because of the Bennett girl.”
Victor stood.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
Salvatore smiled.
“Exactly.”
Victor’s hand curled.
Francesca stepped between them.
“He means she’s leverage.”
“I know what he means.”
Francesca continued.
“If Luca believes Chloe is the woman you love, he’ll keep coming for her.”
Victor’s expression changed.
Francesca saw it.
“So it’s true.”
“Not your concern.”
“It becomes my concern if my name can protect her.”
Chloe stopped breathing outside the door.
Salvatore said, “Announce an engagement to Francesca.”
Victor stared.
“No wedding necessary.”
Francesca added quickly, “Preferably.”
Her father ignored her.
“Make the world believe Chloe was temporary.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
Salvatore continued.
“Grant watches public pressure. Luca watches weakness. Remove the visible weakness.”
“And replace it with your daughter?”
“Yes.”
Victor looked at Francesca.
She shrugged.
“I’ve had worse dates.”
Victor paced toward the window.
Chloe stood frozen outside.
He would refuse.
Of course he would.
Then Victor said, “How long?”
Her heart stopped.
Salvatore smiled.
“Three months.”
Victor remained silent.
Francesca said, “Victor.”
He looked at her.
“If Chloe matters, tell her first.”
He nodded.
“I will.”
Chloe backed away from the door before anyone saw her.
She went upstairs.
Packed.
Again.
This time she did not cry.
At least not until she reached the suitcase.
Victor found her twenty minutes later.
He stood in the doorway.
“No.”
Chloe laughed bitterly.
“You really need new material.”
“You heard.”
“Yes.”
“I was coming to tell you.”
“How thoughtful.”
“It isn’t real.”
“Looks real from where I’m standing.”
Victor entered.
“Chloe.”
“You’re going to announce an engagement.”
“To protect you.”
Her eyes flashed.
“Stop using that sentence like it excuses everything.”
“It could work.”
“And what am I supposed to be?”
“What?”
“The maid you got bored with?”
“No.”
“The poor girl everyone laughs about after you publicly choose the right woman?”
Victor’s expression tightened.
“I don’t care what anyone thinks.”
“I do!”
He stopped.
Chloe’s voice cracked.
“I have spent my whole life being the person people overlook.”
“That is not how I see you.”
“Then don’t hide me.”
Victor stared.
“If announcing Francesca protects Tommy—”
“Don’t.”
Chloe stepped back.
“Do not put my brother inside this decision.”
“He is already inside it.”
“You want to know what protects me?”
“What?”
“Choice.”
Victor said nothing.
“The thing you keep taking away.”
“I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“And I’m trying to live.”
Silence.
Chloe wiped her face.
“Maybe your world isn’t built for people like me.”
Victor’s voice became low.
“My world wasn’t built for people like me either.”
“Then leave it.”
He stared.
The suggestion was absurd.
Impossible.
Terrifying.
“Chloe…”
She nodded.
“That’s what I thought.”
She lifted the suitcase.
Victor blocked the door.
Then remembered their agreement.
He stepped aside.
The movement broke both of them.
“You’re letting me go?”
“No.”
His voice cracked slightly.
“I’m respecting your decision.”
Chloe closed her eyes.
Why did that hurt more?
She walked past him.
At the bottom of the stairs, Tommy was waiting.
Chloe had already arranged for them to stay with a protected family friend Marco trusted.
Victor stood above.
Tommy looked at him.
“You’re an idiot.”
“Tommy,” Chloe whispered.
“No, he is.”
Victor almost smiled.
Tommy continued.
“She loves you.”
Chloe went red.
Victor stopped breathing.
“Get in the car, Tommy.”
“I’m sick, not blind.”
Mrs. Gable covered her mouth.
Marco stared at the floor.
Tommy left.
Chloe looked up at Victor.
Neither said anything.
Then she walked away.
Twenty-four hours later, newspapers carried the announcement.
VICTOR RUSSO TO MARRY FRANCESCA DELUCA IN SOCIETY ALLIANCE.
Photographs showed them leaving Bellini’s together.
Francesca’s hand on Victor’s arm.
Chloe sat beside Tommy in a rented apartment staring at the image.
“It’s fake,” Tommy said.
“Doesn’t matter.”
“He looks miserable.”
“Good.”
“You’re crying.”
“Kidney patients are very annoying.”
Tommy smiled.
Then his smile faded.
Someone knocked.
Chloe stiffened.
Security code.
Three knocks.
Pause.
Two knocks.
Marco.
She opened the door.
He entered carrying an envelope.
“What happened?”
“Victor sent this.”
“I don’t want it.”
“You’ll want this.”
He handed it over.
Inside was a flash drive.
And a note.
You asked me to stop deciding what you can handle. So I’m telling you everything.
Chloe inserted the drive into a laptop.
A video appeared.
Victor.
Recorded that morning.
“Chloe, if you’re watching this, you’re probably still angry.”
She almost laughed.
Victor continued.
“The engagement is a trap.”
Her face changed.
“Francesca agreed to help because Grant’s people have been using DeLuca shipping companies without Salvatore’s knowledge.”
Marco nodded.
Victor on screen continued.
“We’re announcing a wedding in seven days.”
Chloe’s heart sank.
“Grant believes the ceremony will bring every major family leader into one building.”
Marco muttered, “It will.”
Victor continued.
“We believe he’ll try to destroy us all at once.”
Chloe stared.
Victor’s recorded eyes seemed to look directly at her.
“You asked me to leave my world.”
A pause.
“I don’t know if I can.”
Another pause.
“But I know I don’t want this world if having it means losing you.”
Chloe covered her mouth.
Victor continued.
“So after the wedding operation, I’m dismantling the parts of the organization that cannot survive daylight.”
Marco looked shocked.
Apparently that part was new.
Victor said, “The freight companies stay. The security businesses stay. The clubs become legitimate or close.”
Chloe whispered, “Victor…”
“And when this is over, if you still want nothing to do with me, I’ll accept it.”
His eyes softened.
“But it will be the first order from you I ever follow without arguing.”
The video ended.
Chloe sat motionless.
Tommy smiled.
“You love him.”
“Shut up.”
“You’re going to the fake wedding.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Marco’s phone buzzed.
He read the message.
His expression changed.
“What?”
Marco looked at Chloe.
“Victor never sent me this drive.”
Silence.
Chloe stared at him.
“What?”
“I thought he had.”
“Then who did?”
Marco slowly drew his gun.
A second knock sounded.
Not their security code.
One knock.
Then another.
Slow.
Deliberate.
A voice came through the door.
“Chloe Bennett?”
She stopped breathing.
May you like
“Senator Michael Grant would like to meet you.”
And outside the apartment were men wearing federal badges.
