Chapter 2 - The Mafia Boss Who Refused to Hand Her Over
Darkness swallowed the Black Veil.
Genevieve heard the scrape of chairs, the sound of weapons being drawn, and the low, controlled voices of men who had clearly practiced surviving dangerous nights.
She tried to move.
Nico’s hand closed around her wrist.
“Don’t.”
“I can’t see.”
“That’s the point.”
A second later, emergency lights flickered red across the club.
The room transformed.
The glamorous nightclub became something else entirely.
Men stood at strategic positions along the walls. Weapons were visible beneath jackets. Security cameras rotated silently.
Genevieve realized with growing fear that she had not entered a nightclub.
She had entered a fortress.
Nico stood directly in front of her.
“You said my father knew yours?” Genevieve whispered.
“Not well.”
“Then why are you helping me?”
“Because your father once did something for my family.”
“What?”
Nico’s eyes moved toward the doors.
“He saved my mother.”
Before Genevieve could ask another question, the front door shook.
“Open the door!”
Judge Whitmore’s security chief shouted from outside.
Nico smiled without humor.
“Tell them no.”
One of his men leaned toward the intercom.
“You’re not welcome here.”
“We have a warrant.”
“No, you don’t.”
“You are harboring a kidnapping victim.”
Genevieve almost laughed.
Kidnapping.
They were already rewriting the story.
Nico looked at her.
“That is how your enemies work. They lie first. Then they make the lie official.”
Genevieve felt sick.
“They’ll say I ran away because I’m unstable.”
“They may.”
“They’ll say you kidnapped me.”
“They may say that too.”
“And everyone will believe them.”
Nico shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed toward the ceiling.
“You see those cameras?”
“Yes.”
“Everything that happens in this club is recorded. Everything.”
Genevieve stared at him.
“Then you have proof?”
“Maybe.”
Nico turned to one of his men.
“Pull the footage from the cathedral perimeter. Every camera within six blocks. Also get the Black Veil exterior feed.”
The man nodded.
“What are you going to do with me?”
Nico studied her for a moment.
“Protect you.”
Genevieve laughed bitterly.
“From what?”
“From the men who just killed your father.”
Her laughter died.
“I need the truth.”
“You need to stay alive long enough to get it.”
A sound came from the private hallway.
One of Nico’s men whispered something into his ear.
Nico’s face changed.
He looked at Genevieve.
“They brought your maid of honor.”
Genevieve’s heart stopped.
“Harper?”
“She is outside.”
“She wouldn’t help them.”
Nico said nothing.
That silence frightened her more than words.
“Bring her inside.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Minutes later the side door opened.
Harper stumbled inside.
Her makeup was streaked with tears.
“Jen!”
Genevieve rushed toward her.
Harper grabbed her.
“Oh my God. I thought they had you.”
Genevieve pulled away.
“Did you know?”
Harper stared at her.
“Know what?”
“That my father was murdered.”
Harper’s face went white.
“What?”
“Preston confessed.”
Harper shook her head.
“No.”
“I heard him.”
“No, Jen. No.”
“Then why were you carrying my spare car keys?”
Harper froze.
Genevieve slowly reached into her own purse.
The envelope containing her emergency cash was missing.
Her wedding gift was gone too.
“Harper.”
“I didn't take anything.”
Nico watched them carefully.
“Where were you after Genevieve left?”
“At the cathedral.”
“With whom?”
Harper looked at him.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Nico stepped closer.
“Then let me make the question easier. Why did you call Judge Whitmore six minutes before Genevieve ran?”
Harper’s mouth fell open.
Genevieve stepped back as though struck.
“Harper?”
Her best friend began crying.
“I was trying to help.”
“You called him?”
“He told me Preston was having a panic attack.”
“You lied.”
“I thought they were going to tell you everything after the wedding.”
“After they took my company?”
Harper shook her head desperately.
“I didn't know about your father.”
Nico’s voice was calm.
“You knew enough.”
Harper covered her face.
Genevieve’s heart broke in a way that felt almost worse than the betrayal by Preston.
Her father had told her as a teenager that people revealed themselves during emergencies.
She had never understood him.
Now she did.
Suddenly Harper whispered, “There’s something else.”
Nico looked at her.
“What?”
“They knew Genevieve was going to leave.”
Genevieve stared.
“How?”
“Because Preston planted a tracker in your bouquet.”
The room went silent.
Genevieve looked at the ruined white flowers still hanging from one hand.
Nico took them carefully.
He cut the stems with a small knife.
A tiny black device fell onto the floor.
Genevieve’s knees nearly gave out.
“That means…”
“They tracked you here,” Nico said.
Everyone looked toward the main entrance.
Nico's expression hardened.
“They don't know you're protected yet.”
“What happens when they find out?”
“They already know.”
A phone rang.
Nico answered it.
A voice on the other end said only three words.
“They’re here.”
Nico ended the call.
Then he looked at Genevieve.
“You have ten minutes.”
“For what?”
“To disappear.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere nobody in Chicago will think to look.”
Genevieve stared at him.
“You.”
Nico shook his head.
“No.”
“Then where?”
“My home.”
Genevieve blinked.
“You’re taking me to your house?”
“My estate.”
“Why?”
“Because there is nowhere safer.”
She almost protested.
Then another gunshot echoed outside.
Nico extended his hand.
“Come with me.”
Genevieve looked at his hand.
She knew nothing about him.
She knew he was dangerous.
She knew his world was darker than anything she had ever seen.
But she also knew one thing.
The men outside wanted her dead, discredited, or legally enslaved.
So she placed her hand in his.
Nico closed his fingers around hers.
“Stay close.”
May you like
They disappeared through a hidden door behind the bar.
Neither of them noticed the tiny red recording light blinking inside Harper’s handbag.
Related Stories
