Chapter 5 - THE WEDDING THAT WAS NEVER MEANT TO HAPPEN
Amelia told him the truth three days later.
They sat in a small café while snow drifted past the windows.
Her shoulder was healing.
The infection was improving.
And she had finally slept through an entire night.
Lorenzo waited.
Amelia stared at her tea.
“Three days before the wedding, someone called me.”
His expression changed.
“Who?”
“A woman.”
“Name?”
“She said her name was Sofia.”
Lorenzo went still.
Sofia Moretti.
Victor's younger sister.
Amelia continued.
“She knew things.”
“What things?”
“About us. About the house. About your schedule.”
Lorenzo's jaw tightened.
“She told me that if I married you, Victor would kill my younger brother.”
Lorenzo stared.
“Daniel?”
Amelia nodded.
“He was supposed to be in Philadelphia for work.”
Lorenzo leaned forward.
“He was.”
She shook her head.
“No. They had him.”
The words landed like a blow.
Amelia continued.
“They sent photographs. He was tied to a chair.”
Lorenzo closed his eyes.
Daniel Carmichael.
Twenty-four.
A graduate student.
A young man Lorenzo had promised to protect when he asked Amelia to marry him.
Amelia's voice trembled.
“They told me I had to disappear before the ceremony.”
“And the brand?”
She looked down.
“They wanted proof I'd obey.”
Lorenzo's hands curled into fists beneath the table.
Amelia saw.
“Please.”
He forced himself to relax.
She continued.
“They said if you knew, Daniel would die.”
Lorenzo stared at her.
“Is he alive?”
She nodded.
“I think so.”
He swallowed.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Amelia's eyes filled.
“Because they knew everything.”
She leaned forward.
“They knew your routes. Your security codes. The names of your guards.”
May you like
Lorenzo went still.
Then she whispered, “Enzo, someone inside your family helped them.”
