Chapter 9 - The Wedding TrapThe wedding invitation arrived the same night.
White paper.
Black lettering.
No return address.
The ceremony would take place at an old church outside Chicago.
Evelyn knew it was a trap.
Damen knew it was a trap.
They went anyway.
They arrived at dusk.
The church stood alone beneath dark clouds.
Rows of empty pews.
Wilted flowers.
Candles.
At the altar stood Nolan.
Evelyn froze.
“Nolan?”
He looked at her.
“I didn't choose this.”
“Who did?”
A woman stepped from behind the altar.
Nolan's mother.
Vivian Pierce.
Elegant.
Cold.
Beautiful in a way that felt dangerous.
She smiled.
“Hello, Evelyn.”
Damen raised his gun.
Vivian laughed.
“Still protecting her.”
“You have three seconds.”
“You won't shoot me.”
“Try me.”
Vivian looked at Evelyn.
“You look like your father.”
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Where is my mother?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“Nearby.”
“Let her go.”
Vivian smiled.
“Not until the ceremony is complete.”
Evelyn stared.
“What ceremony?”
Vivian nodded toward Nolan.
“The one your family was supposed to complete decades ago.”
Evelyn frowned.
“You want me to marry Nolan?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vivian's smile faded.
“Because once the vows are spoken, the trust activates.”
Damen stiffened.
Evelyn looked at him.
“What trust?”
“The Adrian Ward Blood Trust.”
Vivian explained.
“It doesn't recognize property transfers through contracts.”
“So?”
“It recognizes bloodline bonds.”
Evelyn's stomach turned.
“The forged marriage certificate.”
“Yes.”
“But it wasn't enough.”
“No.”
Vivian smiled.
“The trust requires an official marriage.”
Nolan stepped forward.
“No.”
His mother turned.
“You don't get to refuse again.”
“I won't marry her.”
Vivian lifted a gun.
She pointed it at Evelyn.
Nolan went pale.
“Mother.”
“Stand beside her.”
He did.
Damen's hand tightened around his weapon.
Vivian looked at him.
“Drop it.”
He didn't.
“Damen.”
He slowly lowered the gun.
Vivian smiled.
“Good.”
The ceremony began.
A man in a black suit stood before them.
Evelyn's hands trembled.
Nolan whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
She looked at him.
“Don't be.”
“What?”
She looked toward Damen.
“I trust him.”
Nolan's expression broke.
The officiant began.
“Do you, Nolan Pierce…”
“No,” Nolan said.
Vivian raised the gun.
Nolan looked at Evelyn.
Then he said:
“Yes.”
Evelyn's heart pounded.
“Do you, Evelyn Ward…”
She opened her mouth.
Before she could answer, the church doors exploded open.
Gunfire erupted.
Damen moved instantly.
Vivian screamed.
The guards scattered.
Evelyn ducked.
Damen crossed the church in seconds.
He tackled Vivian.
Nolan grabbed Evelyn and pulled her behind a pillar.
Then Evelyn heard a familiar voice.
“Finally.”
Victor Hale stepped through the smoke.
He wasn't alone.
Behind him stood Evelyn's mother.
Alive.
And holding a gun.
Evelyn stared.
“Mom?”
Her mother lowered the weapon.
“I had to.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“You were working with Victor?”
Her mother cried.
“No.”
Victor laughed.
“She wasn't.”
A pause.
“She was working for me.”
Evelyn's entire body went cold.
Victor looked at Damen.
“Now you understand why Michael had to die.”
Damen raised his gun.
Victor smiled.
“Shoot me.”
Then he pointed at Evelyn's mother.
“Because the moment I die…”
A click echoed.
“Your mother does too.”
Evelyn looked at her mother.
Then at Victor.
Then at Damen.
And finally she realized something.
Victor wasn't watching Damen.
He was watching Nolan.
Evelyn whispered:
“Nolan…”
Nolan's face changed.
He had seen it too.
There was blood on his sleeve.
A knife wound.
And behind him stood one of Victor's men.
Dead.
Nolan slowly pulled a black ledger from inside his jacket.
Victor's smile disappeared.
“Nolan.”
May you like
Nolan looked at Evelyn.
“I stole it.”
