Chapter 9
Celeste stared at her brother.
The arrogance remained.
But it had changed direction.
“You planned my death.”
Sebastian laughed.
“Don't flatter yourself.”
Her eyes sharpened.
He continued.
“I planned chaos.”
“What happened to you inside it depended on you.”
Celeste stepped closer.
“Say that again.”
Sebastian smiled.
“You heard me.”
Rocco watched.
Donna stood behind him.
Quiet.
Nora beside her.
The people Celeste had treated as beneath her were now watching the alliance that made her feel untouchable collapse.
Sebastian continued.
“You wanted to be queen of this house.”
His voice became openly insulting.
“Fine.”
“Wear the gown.”
“Smile for photographs.”
“Tell Donna which chair she gets.”
Celeste's jaw tightened.
“But don't confuse marrying a boss with becoming one.”
That cut deeper than Rocco’s rejection.
Celeste’s hand curled.
Sebastian noticed.
“Careful.”
He smiled.
“You'll wrinkle the dress you haven't worn yet.”
Celeste moved.
Rocco caught her wrist before she reached Sebastian.
She looked at him.
“Let me go.”
“No.”
“He used me.”
Rocco’s expression remained cold.
“You used my mother.”
That stopped her.
Donna looked down.
Celeste breathed hard.
Rocco released her.
“Don't ask me to protect you from the game you brought into my house.”
Celeste’s face hardened.
“I never asked.”
“Good.”
Sebastian laughed.
“There.”
He looked at Rocco.
“You two deserve each other.”
Then Matteo entered.
“All twelve men below are contained.”
Sebastian’s smile weakened.
“Contained?”
“No shots.”
Rocco looked at him.
“How?”
Matteo glanced toward Vincent.
Rocco’s uncle smiled faintly.
Vincent had quietly moved loyal guards into the chapel after Donna mentioned the bell.
Before they ever opened the lower crypt.
Sebastian realized.
“You knew.”
Vincent shook his head.
“I suspected.”
Rocco looked at him.
Vincent continued.
“Donna told me about Celeste asking after the bell last week.”
Rocco turned toward his mother.
She lowered her eyes.
“You told Vincent?”
Donna nodded.
“Why not me?”
Her face tightened.
“Because you were happy.”
That hurt.
Donna continued.
“You hadn't smiled like that since your father died.”
Celeste looked away.
Donna’s voice became quieter.
“I wanted to be wrong.”
Rocco’s jaw tightened.
Sebastian laughed.
“Beautiful.”
He looked toward Donna.
“Your weakness almost got him killed and you call it love.”
Donna flinched.
Sebastian pressed harder.
“You saw danger.”
“Kept quiet.”
“And then knelt to clean the shoes of the woman you were afraid of.”
His smile became contemptuous.
“You didn't protect your son.”
“You protected your fantasy of his wedding.”
Donna’s eyes filled.
Rocco stepped forward.
Sebastian looked at him.
Waiting again.
Rocco stopped.
Donna touched his arm.
Then surprised everyone.
She looked directly at Sebastian.
“You're right.”
Sebastian’s smile widened.
Donna continued.
“I should have told him.”
Her voice shook.
“But that doesn't make you clever.”
His smile thinned.
“It makes me wrong.”
A pause.
“You are still cruel.”
The room became silent.
Sebastian’s face hardened.
Donna had taken his weapon away by owning her mistake.
Then Matteo spoke.
“Boss.”
He held up something taken from one of the men below.
A silver Serrano wolf pin.
Celeste stared.
Rocco looked toward Sebastian.
Matteo continued.
“Every Hale man under the chapel had one.”
Vincent frowned.
“Why?”
Rocco understood.
“Because after the attack…”
Matteo nodded.
“They were supposed to look Serrano.”
Sebastian smiled again.
Celeste's face changed.
May you like
Her brother had planned to disguise Hale men as a rival crew.
The wedding massacre would have started a war between Bellacorte and Serrano while Sebastian walked away appearing uninvolved.
