Chapter 12 - THE WEDDING THAT BECAME A TRAP
Matt refused to cancel the wedding.
Not because he was reckless.
Because we had a plan.
We moved the ceremony to a secure location without announcing it publicly.
The original reception venue remained decorated.
Tables set.
Flowers delivered.
Music scheduled.
From the outside, everything looked normal.
Victor believed the Hart family would arrive at seven.
Instead, federal agents loyal to Thomas were positioned three blocks away.
My men controlled the exits.
Ryan monitored communications.
Daniel and I entered through the loading dock.
Jenna insisted on coming.
“No.”
She folded her arms.
“You have used that word repeatedly with poor results.”
“This is different.”
“My family is the bait.”
“The building is dangerous.”
“So is your office.”
She had me there.
At 6:41, trucks arrived.
Three.
Victor stepped out of the lead vehicle.
My uncle.
My adviser.
The man who had taught me to shoot.
The man who had stood beside me while I buried my brother knowing Daniel might still be alive.
I wanted to kill him.
Daniel touched my arm.
“Not yet.”
We recorded everything.
Buyers arrived.
Crates opened.
Money changed hands.
Then Victor looked directly toward the security camera.
And smiled.
“He knows,” Daniel whispered.
The lights died.
Gunfire erupted.
Our operation became chaos.
Victor’s men sealed the loading dock.
Jenna disappeared from my side.
“Jenna!”
No answer.
I found her phone on the floor.
Then a speaker crackled overhead.
Victor’s voice.
“Evan.”
I stopped.
“You always had your father’s weakness.”
“What weakness?”
“He loved his children more than his empire.”
My jaw tightened.
“So do you.”
A spotlight came on above the stage.
Jenna stood there.
Victor held a gun against her side.
Every instinct in me screamed.
She looked furious rather than afraid.
Typical Jenna.
Victor smiled.
“Put down your weapon.”
I did.
Daniel cursed.
Victor looked satisfied.
Then Jenna said, very calmly, “You should really stop underestimating secretaries.”
She drove her elbow backward.
Victor staggered.
I moved.
Gunfire cracked.
Daniel tackled one guard.
Ryan hit another.
Federal agents breached the doors.
Within seconds, Victor was on the floor.
I reached Jenna.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Then we heard ticking.
Daniel turned toward the shipment.
One crate had been opened.
Inside was an active explosive device.
Victor started laughing.
“You thought the weapons were the plan?”
The timer showed four minutes.
May you like
He smiled up at me.
“The wedding was always supposed to be a funeral.”
