“The Gala Comes First,” Mafia Boss Insisted—His Pregnant Wife Cost Him More Than a Vote

The first gunshot struck the front window.

Samuel pulled Catherine to the floor while Gabriel shouted orders from the hallway. Glass scattered across the kitchen tiles.

"Stay down!" Gabriel called.

Catherine pressed herself against the cabinet, one hand protecting her abdomen.

The guards returned fire from the front entrance. For several seconds, the house became a confusion of footsteps, splintering wood, and shouted commands.

Then silence.

Gabriel returned to the kitchen.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"Samuel?"

"Here."

Samuel was breathing hard, but blood darkened the sleeve of his jacket.

Catherine reached for him.

"You're injured."

"Just a scratch."

"That is not a scratch."

Gabriel ordered a medic to attend him and led Catherine through a rear corridor to a reinforced vehicle.

As they drove away, she looked back at the house.

"How did they find us?"

"Someone knew where Samuel was going."

"Someone inside your organization?"

"Or someone close to Matteo."

Catherine's phone, which had been switched off since the gala, vibrated in her bag. Gabriel had given her a new device with a private number.

The incoming call displayed no name.

She answered.

"Hello?"

Celeste's voice filled the car.

"You're difficult to reach."

Catherine went cold.

"How did you get this number?"

"Your husband's security team is not as loyal as you think."

"What do you want?"

"To save you from making a very expensive mistake."

Catherine glanced at Gabriel. He gestured for her to keep the call active.

Celeste continued.

"Matteo will tell you anything right now. He'll promise to change, promise to protect you, promise to destroy his own family. Men like him always confuse guilt with love."

"You seem familiar with his habits."

A short laugh came through the phone.

"More familiar than you know."

"Did you arrange the warehouse fire?"

Silence.

Then Celeste said, "Your father was a good man. He made one mistake. He trusted people who were willing to sacrifice him."

Catherine's fingers tightened around the phone.

"Did you kill him?"

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't deny it."

"Listen carefully. Enzo intends to use the trust to take control of the waterfront properties. Matteo's baby threatens that plan. If you want your child to live, leave Charlotte and never return."

Catherine's voice steadied.

"Why are you helping me?"

"I'm not."

The call ended.

Gabriel looked at her.

"She just admitted knowledge of your father's death."

"Not enough to prove she caused it."

"No. But enough to know she is frightened."

Catherine opened the folder and examined the documents again. One company appeared repeatedly: Arden Strategic. Its listed director was Celeste's brother, Julian Arden.

She searched the name in the files.

A handwritten note from her father appeared beside a bank transfer.

Julian Arden was present when the original trust documents were removed.

Catherine looked up.

"Celeste's family helped steal the records."

Gabriel nodded.

"Which means she may know where the originals are."

The vehicle entered a private underground garage. Gabriel escorted Catherine into a secure office above it.

On the desk lay a printed photograph of Celeste standing outside a courthouse with a young man.

The man had dark hair and Matteo's distinctive gray eyes.

Catherine stared.

"Who is that?"