Chapter 10 - THE BRIDE WHO WALKED INTO A TRAP
At eleven fifty-eight the next night, Mara walked into an abandoned church wearing white.
Victor had chosen the place carefully.
No security cameras.
No neighboring buildings.
No functioning cell towers nearby.
He had also demanded she wear no wire.
Mara followed every visible instruction.
The invisible ones were another matter.
Adrian had built a tracking chip into the heel of her shoe.
Luca had positioned men half a mile away.
Evelyn had contacted them again and provided the building layout.
And Mara had a ceramic blade hidden beneath her sleeve.
She hated every part of the plan.
But her mother was alive inside.
That was enough.
Victor waited near the altar.
He wore a black suit.
“Beautiful.”
Mara’s skin crawled.
“Where is my mother?”
“Safe.”
“I want to see her.”
“You will.”
“Before anything else.”
Victor smiled.
“You sound like Jonah.”
“Good.”
His smile faded.
A side door opened.
Catherine was brought in.
Alive.
Her hands were bound.
Mara’s knees weakened with relief.
“Mom.”
“I’m okay.”
Victor gestured toward a table.
Marriage papers.
A judge stood beside them.
Mara recognized him from Dominic’s confession.
Corrupt.
Afraid.
Victor pointed to the signature line.
“Sign.”
“No.”
He placed a gun against Catherine’s head.
Mara’s breath stopped.
“Sign.”
Her hand trembled as she lifted the pen.
Outside, Adrian waited for Luca’s signal.
Inside, Mara deliberately signed the wrong name.
MARA ELLIS.
Victor looked down.
His face changed.
“That isn’t your legal name.”
“I know.”
He slapped her.
Catherine screamed.
Mara staggered but stayed standing.
Victor raised the gun again.
“You think this is a game?”
“No.”
“Then sign.”
Mara looked at him.
And smiled.
That unsettled him.
“You made one mistake, Victor.”
“What?”
“You believed Adrian would let me come here without changing the trust first.”
Victor froze.
“What?”
“Yesterday afternoon, I legally resigned as trustee.”
His face emptied.
“The money is locked under federal supervision.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
Victor’s expression twisted.
Then gunfire erupted outside.
He grabbed Mara.
The gun pressed against her neck.
Adrian entered through the rear door.
“Let her go.”
Victor laughed.
“You’re becoming predictable.”
Adrian’s eyes stayed on Mara.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Liar.”
Despite herself, she almost smiled.
Victor dragged her backward.
Then another voice came from the balcony.
“Dad.”
Victor looked up.
Evelyn stood there.
Her gun aimed directly at him.
His face changed.
“Evie.”
“Let her go.”
“You owe me everything.”
“I know.”
“I protected you.”
“You owned me.”
His grip loosened by one inch.
Enough.
Mara drove the ceramic blade into his thigh.
Victor shouted.
Adrian moved.
Luca’s men stormed the church.
Catherine dropped to the floor.
Evelyn fired.
But not at Victor.
At the gun in his hand.
It spun away.
Within seconds, Victor was surrounded.
Alive.
Defeated.
Mara ran to her mother.
Adrian came toward them.
Then a shot exploded from the side aisle.
Adrian jerked.
Mara screamed.
May you like
He collapsed beside the altar.
And behind him stood the corrupt judge, holding a smoking gun.
