Chapter 8 - The Wedding Began Like a Fairytale, but Every Guest at Adrian’s Table Was Secretly Being Recorded by Federal InvestigatorsThe ceremony began at noon.
Hundreds of guests.
Flowers.
Music.
Security.
Valentina wore white.
Adrian stood at the altar.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
I sat near the front with Ava sleeping against my chest.
Nobody knew she was his daughter.
Not yet.
Agent Hale had placed recording equipment throughout the venue.
The senator arrived.
The contractor.
Marcus Cross.
Judges.
Businessmen.
People whose names appeared in my files.
Everyone.
When Adrian saw me, he smiled.
The ceremony continued.
Then came the reception.
Adrian raised his glass.
“To family.”
Everyone drank.
I nearly laughed.
The irony was almost cruel.
Then a screen behind him turned on.
Financial records appeared.
Names.
Payments.
Account numbers.
Photographs.
The room went silent.
Adrian hadn't warned anyone.
He looked at me.
I understood.
This was the signal.
Federal agents entered.
Doors locked.
Nobody left.
The senator shouted.
Marcus Cross tried to run.
Security stopped him.
Valentina removed her veil.
She wasn't pregnant.
The room exploded into chaos.
I stood.
Ava woke.
Adrian looked at her.
For the first time, he saw our daughter.
His face changed.
“My God.”
I held her closer.
“She knows your voice.”
He stepped toward me.
“I can't believe…”
I stopped him.
“Not now.”
He nodded.
Then the federal agents came for him.
He didn't resist.
That was part of the plan.
He was arrested.
So was nearly everyone else.
But three people escaped.
Marcus Cross.
The senator.
May you like
And the man who had controlled the network from the beginning.
My mother.
Related Stories
