Chapter 5 - The Trap Springs
The wine cellar beneath the penthouse was a subterranean fortress of stone, steel, and temperature-controlled glass cases housing millions of dollars in vintage alcohol. It was cold, silent, and entirely soundproof.
Viktor shoved me hard through the heavy reinforced iron door. I stumbled forward, hitting the cold concrete floor on my knees, the black binder slipping from my hands and sliding across the polished floor.
“Stay on the floor,” Viktor grunted, keeping the gun leveled at my chest while Celeste walked in behind him, holding a small silver hand-mirror to adjust her lipstick as if she were simply attending a social call.
“Check the binder,” Celeste instructed him coldly. “Make sure she didn't hide any pages.”
As Viktor leaned down to grab the leather binder from the floor, a muffled thud echoed from the private elevator shaft upstairs. The heavy steel doors of the basement cellar rattled slightly.
Celeste froze, her lipstick pausing mid-stroke. “What was that?”
“The elevator,” Viktor muttered, his brow furrowing. “Someone just came down using the master key override.”
Panic flashed across Celeste’s face for a fraction of a second before she smoothed it over with practiced calm. “Dante isn't supposed to be back for another two hours. Go check the security monitor in the hall.”
Viktor nodded, moving cautiously toward the heavy iron door. But before his hand could touch the handle, the door slammed open with terrifying force, smashing into the concrete wall.
Dante Moretti stood in the frame.
He wasn't wearing his suit jacket. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, his dark eyes ablaze with a raw, murderous rage that made the very air in the room drop ten degrees. Standing behind him were four of his most loyal, heavily armed personal bodyguards, their weapons drawn and trained directly on Viktor.
“Drop the weapon, Viktor,” Dante said, his voice terrifyingly quiet, carrying the weight of an absolute death sentence.
Viktor hesitated for half a second before dropping his silenced pistol to the floor. It clattered noisily against the concrete.
“Dante!” Celeste gasped, her face draining of all color as she instantly shifted into her performance. She threw her hands over her mouth, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. “Oh thank God you’re here! I caught her—this maid! She broke into your private office, she stole your private financial binders, and when Viktor and I tried to stop her, she threatened us!”
She rushed toward Dante, reaching out to wrap her arms around his waist.
Dante didn't embrace her. He didn't even look at her. He reached out with one massive hand, gripped Celeste’s wrist firmly, and pushed her back with cold, effortless strength.
“Save it, Celeste,” Dante hissed, his voice trembling with suppressed fury.
He stepped into the room, his heavy boots echoing loudly on the concrete floor. He walked straight past Celeste and Viktor, stopping directly in front of where I was kneeling on the cold ground.
He knelt down on one knee, reaching out to take my trembling hands in his. His touch was warm, solid, and fiercely protective.
“Are you hurt?” he asked softly, his eyes scanning my face for any sign of injury.
“I... I’m okay,” I whispered, tears of relief finally overflowing and spilling down my cheeks. “Dante... your mother...”
“She’s safe,” Dante interrupted gently. “Marcus is with her right now. The tea you dumped down the drain? We had security cameras installed in the pantry three days ago, Serena. I saw everything Celeste did on my phone while I was driving back from the court.”
Celeste gasped, stumbling back against the wine racks, her face twisted in absolute shock and horror. “You... you spied on me?”
Dante slowly stood up, turning to face his betrothed. The tenderness in his eyes completely vanished, replaced by the lethal, unyielding glare of a man who ruled an empire with an iron fist.
“I’ve known about your family’s meetings with the New York syndicate for three weeks, Celeste,” Dante said, taking a slow step toward her. “I let you think you were succeeding because I needed to trace every single account, every corrupted officer, and every insider traitor in my organization.”
He pointed a finger at Viktor. “Including him.”
Dante’s guards immediately grabbed Viktor, pinning his arms behind his back and forcing him to his knees.
“Dante, please!” Celeste sobbed, falling to her knees on the cold floor, her pristine designer clothes dragging in the dust. “It was my father! He forced me into this! They threatened my family! I love you, Dante, you know I love you!”
“You tried to poison my mother,” Dante said, his voice dropping to a whisper so dark it chilled me to the bone. “You stood in my home, ate my food, wore my jewelry, and attempted to murder the woman who gave me life. You don’t know what love is, Celeste. But you are about to learn what vengeance feels like.”
Dante turned to his chief security guard. “Take Viktor to the warehouse down by the river. I’ll deal with him personally tonight.”
“And Celeste, boss?” the guard asked.
Dante looked down at the sobbing, broken woman on the floor with total indifference. “Lock her in the panic room upstairs until the federal authorities arrive. Her father’s empire falls tonight, and she will spend the rest of her useless life in a federal facility.”
As the guards dragged Viktor and a screaming Celeste out of the cellar, the heavy quiet returned to the subterranean room.
Dante turned back to me. He extended his hand.
I reached out and placed my hand in his. He pulled me up effortlessly, bringing me close against his chest. I could feel the powerful, steady beat of his heart against my cheek.
“You risked your life for my mother,” Dante murmured into my hair, his arms wrapping tightly around me. “You stood alone against them when everyone else was taking bribes.”
“I couldn't let them hurt her,” I whispered, burying my face into his shirt. “And I couldn't let them destroy you.”
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Dante pulled back slightly, holding my face between his large, warm hands. He wiped away my tears with his thumbs, his dark eyes filled with an emotion so deep, so intense, it took my breath away.
“Nobody will ever threaten you or your family again, Serena,” he swore softly. “You aren't a maid in this house anymore. You never were.”
