The Don’s Favorite Lover Vanished

---- Chapter 11 Vincenzo's POV The bells of Holy Name Cathedral rang out. I stood at the altar, my eyes on the massive oak doors. This wasn't a wedding. It was a goddamn spectacle. "Boss," Marco whispered in my ear. "Something's wrong. Dimitri's men... they've tripled their perimeter outside." Ice flooded my veins. "Watch them." The oak doors swung open. Katerina, in a priceless gown, walked toward me like a goddamn saint. But I felt nothing. Just the cold premonition of aman walking to the gallows. She reached me and took my arm.

"Darling, you look nervous." ---- "Pm not." The priest began the vows. I didn't hear a word. My focus was locked on Dimitri Petrov in the front pew. He was smiling at us. His gray eyes held the glint of a hunter watching his prey walk into a trap. During the toasts, Dimitri stood up. "Today is a historic moment," his voice echoed through the cathedral. "For our great alliance, and for the... obstacles that were 'cleansed' for its sake." When he said "obstacles," his eyes stabbed at me like daggers. I forced myself to raise my glass. Alarms screamed in my head. The priest's voice droned on.

"Katerina Petrov, do you take..." "T do," Katerina said, her blue eyes fixed on me, shimmering with a strange, cold light. ---- "Vincenzo Russo, do you take..." Suddenly, Katerina's hand shot to the garter on her thigh. Adiamond-studded dagger appeared in her hand. "J do," she cooed, her smile sickeningly sweet. Then she lunged, aiming for my heart. "Take you to hell!" I recoiled on pure instinct. The blade sliced across my chest. Blood bloomed on my white shirt. At the same time, gunfire erupted outside. RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT! The roar of automatic weapons tore the holy air to shreds.

"Ambush!" Marco yelled. "Protect the Boss!" Stained-glass windows shattered. Dozens of assassins in Russian military gear swarmed in from all sides. Petrov's men. I grabbed Katerina's throat, slamming her back against the altar. "Why?!" She laughed, a wild, triumphant sound. ---- "You still don't get it, you fool?" Her face was turning red, but her eyes blazed with victory. "This was a trap! From the very beginning, it was alla trap!" "To swallow us whole. To take all of Chicago," she gasped for air. "You thought the Russians would share power with you?

You're so naive!" The gunfire was getting closer. My men were falling back. "You sent away the only woman who would've taken a bullet for you," she hissed, her voice like a viper's in my ear. "Now it's your turn." My blood ran cold. "Oh, and I forgot to tell you," her smile was demonic. " The ambush at the engagement party? That was me, too. I've wanted her gone for a long time." She watched my face drain of all color and let out a cackle of victory. "Can you guess, Vincenzo?

When you pushed her toward that explosion with your own hands, can you guess how much she hated you?" My world shattered. ---- Not because of Katerina's betrayal. Not because my family was under attack. It was because I finally understood. I hadn't just lost a tool. I'd lost my shield. My only salvation. And I was the executioner who pushed her away. "Chiara..." Araw, animalistic roar tore from my throat. Not from the pain in my chest, but from a regret so sharp it was tearing me apart. Katerina's laughter grew wilder.

"Too late, husband," she hissed, her nails digging into my arm, her voice dripping with vengeance. "Tt's too late."