Chapter 9: The Other Bride
Victoria stumbled backward.
“No.””
The woman walked slowly across the marble.
Her heels clicked between the broken glass.
Dante raised his weapon.
“Stop.””
She did.
Her expression was calm.
Almost amused.
She looked at Victoria.
“You really thought he would never find out?””
Victoria shook her head.
“You died.””
The woman smiled.
“So did everyone else, apparently.””
Dante glanced at Marcus.
“Who is she?””
Marcus stared at the woman.
“I don't know.””
The woman laughed softly.
“That's because nobody was supposed to know.””
Victoria's voice cracked.
“Dante, don't listen to her.””
The woman turned.
“You've been saying that for years.””
Dante looked at Victoria.
“Who is she?””
Victoria couldn't answer.
The woman stepped closer.
“My name is Vanessa.””
Dante's eyes narrowed.
“Vanessa what?””
“Cole.””
Victoria covered her face.
Dante stared at her.
“Cole?””
Vanessa smiled.
“Your fiancée knows exactly who I am.””
Victoria lowered her hands.
“Vanessa was my sister.””
“Was?””
“She died when we were children.””
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
“No.””
She pointed at Victoria.
“She was told I died.””
Dante looked between them.
“Who told you?””
Victoria whispered, “My father.””
Vanessa nodded.
“He told her I drowned.””
Dante's expression hardened.
“And you didn't.””
“No.””
“I've been looking for the people responsible ever since.””
Dante lowered his weapon slightly.
“Why come here?””
Vanessa looked toward the destroyed champagne tower.
“Because tonight was supposed to end differently.””
“What does that mean?””
“I was supposed to watch you drink the water.””
Dante's face hardened.
“You were part of it.””
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.””
Victoria stared at her.
“You said you wanted to help me.””
“I did.””
“You said the drink wasn't lethal.””
“It wasn't.””
Dante's eyes narrowed.
“What was in it?””
Vanessa smiled.
“Something that would make you disappear for six hours.””
Dante stared.
“Why?””
“So the people upstairs could replace you.””
Silence.
Marcus looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Replace him with who?””
Vanessa pointed at the security photograph.
“The man you've been seeing.””
Dante looked at the image.
The double.
His face.
His clothes.
His watch.
Vanessa continued.
“He's been trained for years.””
Dante's voice was cold.
“To impersonate me.””
“Yes.””
“Who hired him?””
Vanessa looked at Victoria.
“Her father.””
Victoria shook her head.
“My father is dead.””
Vanessa laughed.
“So was mine.””
She stepped closer.
“Dead men make excellent business partners.””
Dante studied her.
“Where is the double now?””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“He's upstairs.””
Dante turned toward the staircase.
“Marcus.””
His men moved immediately.
Vanessa caught his arm.
“Wait.””
Dante looked at her hand.
“Let go.””
“You're walking into a trap.””
“I've been walking through traps all night.””
“This one is different.””
“How?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Because your brother is inside.””
Dante stopped.
“Anthony?””
“He was captured before the party.””
“Where?””
“The private suite.””
Dante's eyes hardened.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I needed you to trust me.””
“You tried to poison me.””
“I tried to sedate you.””
“That's supposed to make me feel better?””
“No.””
Vanessa looked toward Victoria.
“I needed her to believe I was still on her side.””
Victoria shook her head.
“You used me.””
“Yes.””
“After everything?””
Vanessa's voice became bitter.
“You mean after Dad told you I was dead?””
Victoria's eyes filled.
“I was twelve.””
“And I was ten.””
“I believed him.””
“So did everyone.””
Dante stepped between them.
“Enough.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You want Anthony?””
“Yes.””
“Then listen.””
She pointed toward the private suite.
“Don't go through the main door.””
“Why?””
“Because the person inside expects you to.””
Dante looked at Marcus.
“Take the service stairs.””
Marcus nodded.
Dante turned toward Elena.
“You stay here.””
Elena shook her head.
“No.””
Dante frowned.
“No?””
“I know the service corridors.””
“How?””
“I worked this building for eight months.””
Dante hesitated.
Vanessa looked at Elena.
“She comes.””
Dante looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because she knows where the cameras don't reach.””
Elena nodded.
“There is a blind corridor behind the kitchen.””
Dante looked at Marcus.
“Take four men.””
Marcus nodded.
Dante started toward the service entrance.
Victoria grabbed his sleeve.
“Dante.””
He turned.
Her eyes were red.
“If you find Anthony…”
“What?””
“Tell him I'm sorry.””
Dante stared at her.
“Why?””
Victoria swallowed.
“Because I was the one who told them where he was.””
Dante went still.
“You what?””
“I didn't know they would take him.””
“Who?””
Victoria began crying.
“My father.””
Dante's voice dropped.
“Your father died.””
Victoria shook her head.
“No.””
She looked toward Vanessa.
“That's the lie.””
Vanessa nodded.
“He's alive.””
Dante stared at both sisters.
Then the ballroom lights suddenly shut off.
A single spotlight illuminated the engagement table.
A phone sat there.
The screen lit up.
A message appeared.
*YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES.*
Then another message.
*BRING ELENA.*
Dante looked at Elena.
She had gone completely pale.
A third message appeared.
*SHE KNOWS WHERE THE BODY IS.*
Elena whispered, “I don't.””
Dante looked at her.
“Yes, you do.””
She shook her head violently.
“I swear I don't.””
Vanessa stared at Elena.
“Tell him.””
Elena began crying.
“I can't.””
Dante stepped closer.
“Elena.””
She looked up at him.
Her voice broke.
“I found the body three years ago.””
Dante's face went cold.
“Whose body?””
Elena stared at the phone.
“Your father's.””
May you like
A fourth message appeared.
*AND IT WASN'T THE BODY YOU BURIED.*
