Chapter 3 - The Gala of Snakes
"In a room full of monsters, the most dangerous one is the one holding your hand."The Grand Ballroom of the Drake Hotel was a sea of old money, political power, and hidden criminality. The annual Governor’s Charity Gala was the one night a year where Chicago’s elite rubbed shoulders with the city’s underworld under the guise of philanthropy.
Nora stood in front of the full-length mirror in her dressing room, barely recognizing the woman looking back at her. Clara’s team had transformed her. She wore a stunning, emerald-green silk gown that clung to her curves like a second skin, featuring a daring open back that exposed her flawless skin. Her blonde hair was pinned up in an elegant chignon, leaving her long neck bare. Around her throat sat a diamond choker that cost more than she would have earned in three lifetimes.
The door opened, and Vincent stepped in. He wore a flawless black tuxedo that emphasized his massive, athletic frame. He stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes sweeping over her from head to toe. For a split second, the cold mafia boss disappeared, replaced by a man genuinely struck by beauty.
"You look... acceptable," he said, though his husky tone betrayed his casual words.
"Acceptable?" Nora countered, a small spark of defiance returning to her. "This dress is cutting off my circulation, Mr. Moretti. The least you can do is call it beautiful."
Vincent walked up behind her, his reflection towering over hers in the mirror. He leaned down, his lips almost touching her bare shoulder. "The dress is beautiful, Nora. But it’s the woman inside it that’s going to drive every man in that room insane with envy. Which is exactly what I need."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. Inside was a massive, flawless emerald ring. He slid it onto her left ring finger. "An engagement ring. If anyone asks, we’ve been seeing each other in secret for six months. You are the reason I refused Isabella Corretti."
Nora looked at the heavy stone. It felt like a handcuff. "Are you ready?"
"Are you?" Vincent countered, offering his arm.
When the double doors of the Drake Hotel ballroom opened and the announcer shouted, "Mr. Vincent Moretti and Miss Nora Bennett," the entire room went dead silent. The live orchestra slowed its tempo, and hundreds of heads turned toward the entrance.
Nora felt a wave of panic wash over her. The flashing lights of society photographers blinded her. Her legs felt like lead.
"Smile, sweetheart," Vincent murmured under his breath, his arm tightening against hers, anchoring her to the earth. "You own this room now. Act like it."
Nora took a deep breath, channeled every ounce of survival instinct she possessed, and flashed a radiant, dazzling smile. Together, they descended the grand staircase.
As they reached the floor, they were immediately surrounded by a group of older men in expensive suits. Among them was an older man with silver hair and cold, reptilian eyes. Beside him stood a stunning brunette in a crimson dress that looked like spilled blood.
"Vincent," the older man said, his voice dripping with false warmth. "You finally decide to grace us with your presence. And you brought a surprise."
"Donato," Vincent replied, his voice dropping into a dangerously smooth register. "I believe you haven't met my fiancée, Nora. Nora, this is Donato Corretti. And his daughter, Isabella."
Isabella stepped forward, her eyes scanning Nora with pure, unadulterated hatred. "Fiancée? Funny, Vincent. I didn't know you frequented diners on the South Side to find your future bride. Word travels fast in this city. She's a waitress, isn't she?"
The surrounding circle gasped softly. Nora felt the warmth drain from her face. Isabella was trying to humiliate her publicly.
But before Nora could speak, Vincent took a step forward, his aura shifting into something so terrifyingly predatory that Donato Corretti actually took a half-step back.
"Nora’s past is none of your concern, Isabella," Vincent said, his voice a low, lethal purr. "What matters is her present. She is a Moretti now. And in this city, anyone who disrespects a Moretti finds themselves buried under the very concrete they walk on. Do I need to remind your father about what happened to the last person who questioned my choices?"
Donato’s face turned pale. He quickly grabbed his daughter’s arm, pulling her back. "Of course not, Vincent. Isabella was merely joking. Congratulations to you both. Excuse us."
As the Correttis walked away, Nora let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She looked up at Vincent, genuine gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you. You didn't have to defend me like that."
"I was defending my property," Vincent said coldly, though his eyes lingered on her face a second too long. "Come. Let's get a drink."
They moved through the crowd, playing the part of the deeply infatuated couple perfectly. For a few hours, Nora actually forgot the danger she was in. She laughed at Vincent’s dry, cynical wit. She leaned into his touch, finding a strange, intoxicating comfort in his overwhelming strength.
But the illusion was shattered near midnight.
Nora excused herself to go to the ladies' room. The long, carpeted hallway leading to the restrooms was quiet, away from the roaring crowd. As she washed her hands, she felt a sudden, violent chill in the air.
She turned around to leave, opening the heavy restroom door, only to be violently shoved backward into the lounge area. A hand slammed over her mouth, pinning her against the marble wall.
Nora’s eyes widened in sheer, paralyzing horror.
Looking down at her, his eyes wild, bloodshot, and filled with a maniacal, obsessive rage, was Cameron.
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He was wearing a stolen waiter’s uniform, his face covered in sweat. In his right hand, he held a jagged, broken glass bottle, its sharp edge pressed directly against her throat.
"Did you really think a mafia boss could keep me away from you, Nora?" Cameron whispered, his breath hot and foul against her cheek. "You're my girl. You belong to me. We're leaving through the back door right now, or I swear to God, I will carve my name into your beautiful face."
