Chapter 7 - The Wedding The Mafia World Never Expected
Dominic proposed six months later.
No ballroom.
No press.
No diamonds the size of marbles.
Just a quiet rooftop overlooking the Chicago River.
Khloe found him waiting.
"You look nervous."
"I am."
"Why?"
"Because this is the one thing money can't fix."
She smiled.
"What are you asking?"
He dropped to one knee.
"Marry me."
She stared.
"That was direct."
"I'm terrified."
She laughed.
"Good."
He smiled.
"Is that a yes?"
She took his hand.
"Yes."
The wedding became complicated.
Dominic's family wanted something enormous.
Khloe wanted something simple.
They compromised.
Two hundred guests.
One garden.
One lake.
No weapons.
Dominic's security team nearly quit.
Khloe laughed.
"You've traumatized them."
"They're professional."
"They've never attended a normal wedding."
"Neither have I."
On the morning of the wedding, Khloe received a letter.
From Adrian.
One sentence.
YOU WILL NEVER BE SAFE WITH HIM.
She folded it.
Burned it.
Then walked down the aisle.
Dominic waited.
When he saw her, all the old hardness in his face disappeared.
He whispered:
"You're here."
She smiled.
"I said yes."
They exchanged vows.
Not promises of perfect lives.
Promises to stay.
After the ceremony, Elena gave a speech.
"I've known my brother my whole life."
Everyone laughed.
"And I have never seen him more terrified than the day Khloe got into his bed by accident."
Dominic groaned.
Khloe laughed.
"Because he finally met someone he couldn't intimidate."
Dante raised his glass.
"Nobody can intimidate her."
Rose stood.
"Especially not my son."
The room erupted in laughter.
Dominic shook his head.
"You're all enjoying this too much."
Khloe touched his arm.
"I am."
Later, during their first dance, Dominic whispered:
"You remember the first one?"
"The terrible dancing?"
"Yes."
"You stepped on my foot."
"You stepped on mine."
"Still blaming me?"
"Forever."
She smiled.
"Good."
The music ended.
Then the power went out.
The lights died.
Security moved.
Guests gasped.
Dominic immediately put himself in front of Khloe.
"Stay behind me."
A voice came from the darkness.
"Congratulations."
Dominic froze.
The voice belonged to a man believed to be dead.
Adrian's lawyer.
Marcus Vale.
Khloe stared.
The lights returned.
A screen illuminated.
On it was a photograph.
Her mother.
And another man.
Ethan Castile.
Khloe's biological father.
May you like
Below them was one sentence.
HE LEFT YOU ONE FINAL SECRET.
