Chapter 8 - The Betrayal in the Snow
The public humiliation of Arthur Vane at the winter gala sealed Dante’s absolute control over the Vance Syndicate, but it also drove his enemies into a desperate, cornered madness.
One week later, the day before the wedding, a massive blizzard hit the Chicago area, burying the city in three feet of snow.
Inside the Vance Estate, final preparations for the private cathedral ceremony were underway. Lily was running through the halls in a miniature pink bridesmaid dress, while Mrs. Gable packed the twins' travel bags for the post-wedding trip to Dante’s private villa in Maine.
Maya sat in the conservatory, watching the snow fall over the gardens, a warm cup of tea in her hands.
Dante walked in, removing his heavy coat and tossing it over a chair. He walked up behind her, placing his hands gently on her shoulders, leaning down to press a soft kiss against her neck.
Over the past week, the cold boundaries of their business contract had slowly melted away, replaced by a deep, unspoken passion that neither of them could deny. Every shared glance, every soft touch in the hallways had built a tension that was ready to snap.
"The cathedral is secured," Dante murmured into her hair. "By tomorrow night, you will officially be Mrs. Vance."
Maya leaned back against his chest, holding his hands. "Are you sure about this, Dante? Once we sign those papers, my family is tied to your world forever. You won't be able to get rid of us."
Dante turned her around in her chair, taking her face in both of his hands, looking deep into her eyes. "I don't ever want to get rid of you, Maya. This stopped being a contract the night I brought you home."
Before Maya could respond, the power in the entire estate suddenly went out.
The bright chandelier in the conservatory flickered and died, plunging the room into darkness, illuminated only by the faint gray light of the blizzard outside.
Simultaneously, the heavy thump of muffled gunfire echoed from the front gates.
Dante’s demeanor shifted instantly. The gentle lover vanished, replaced in a fraction of a second by the lethal mafia king. He pulled a silenced sidearm from his shoulder holster, pulling Maya behind his back.
"Stay down," Dante commanded sharply.
Leo burst into the conservatory, bleeding from a cut on his forehead. "Boss! It's an ambush! Julian opened the west perimeter gate from the inside—he let Vane’s men onto the grounds! They’ve cut the main power grid and jammed our comms!"
"Where are Lily and the babies?" Maya screamed, terror tearing through her chest.
"They're in the reinforced panic room on the third floor with Mrs. Gable," Leo reported, panting heavily. "But Vane’s men are pushing up the main staircase!"
Dante’s eyes burned with murderous fury. "Leo, take three men and cover the rear exit. I’ll clear the stairs myself."
"Dante, no!" Maya grabbed his sleeve, tears blurring her vision. "There are too many of them!"
May you like
Dante looked at her, taking her face in his hands one last time, pressing a fierce, desperate kiss against her lips. "I built this fortress to keep you safe, Maya. No one takes my family from me."
He pulled away and sprinted into the dark corridor toward the gunfire.
