Chapter 6 - The Spider In The Daylight
""They’re going to take her away,"" Elena panicked, pacing the length of the oriental rug. ""If the police take Sophie into protective custody, Vincent's social services contacts will hand her over to a state guardian appointed by his committee! He’ll force the signature on the deed within forty-eight hours!""
""Breathe,"" Dante commanded, rising to his feet and stepping directly into her path. He placed two firm, warm hands on her shoulders. The contact sent an electric jolt through Elena's spine, startling her into stillness. ""Look at me, Elena. I said no one touches that child.""
""You don't understand how corrupt the system is!"" she cried, looking up into his dark eyes. ""I spent two years fighting legal boards. Vincent has judges, inspectors, and police chiefs on his payroll! A mafia boss on the run can't fight a city councilman in broad daylight!""
""Then we don't fight him as a mob boss,"" Dante said, a chilling smile curving his lips. ""We fight him as an investor.""
He turned to Marco. ""Call Senator Hayes. Wake him up.""
Marco raised an eyebrow. ""Hayes is in Washington, boss. He doesn't like being disturbed after midnight.""
""Tell him the offshore accounts in Grand Cayman bearing his signature will be emailed to the Department of Justice at 6:00 AM unless he convenes an emergency federal hearing in Boston by noon tomorrow,"" Dante said smoothly. ""Then contact our legal counsel. Have them draft an immediate, emergency adoption petition.""
Elena gasped. ""Adoption? What are you talking about?""
""A legal marriage between you and me,"" Dante said, as casually as ordering breakfast.
Elena felt the room spin. ""Are you completely insane?! A marriage?! I barely know you! Two hours ago, I wanted to plunge a chef's knife into your throat!""
""Think like a strategist, Miss Vance,"" Dante explained, crossing his arms over his broad chest. ""As Sophie's sole blood aunt, your parental fitness has been questioned because of your revoked nursing license and lack of steady income. That was Vincent's angle in probate court. But if you marry an Italian-American real estate developer with an eighty-million-dollar documented net worth and zero criminal convictions on his legal record, you become untouchable.""
""Zero criminal convictions?"" Elena scoffed. ""You run the docks!""
""My holdings are held through legitimate maritime logistics and commercial real estate firms,"" Dante replied with aristocratic composure. ""My cousin Vincent was the one handling the street-level extortion. He dirtied his hands; I kept mine clean on paper. As my legal wife, your financial standing is restored instantly. Our joint petition for Sophie's permanent guardianship overrides any state probate challenge. And most importantly...""
Dante stepped closer, his cologne of sandalwood and rain filling her senses. ""...under Massachusetts spousal privilege, you cannot be compelled to testify against me, and I cannot be barred from entering any courtroom where Sophie's custody is contested.""
Elena stared at him, her chest heaving. It was outrageous. It was monstrous. It was the most brilliant, terrifying trap she had ever seen.
""And what do you get out of this, Dante?"" she asked, her voice trembling. ""Mafia bosses don't play hero out of the goodness of their hearts.""
Dante looked over at the sofa, where Sophie lay clutching her one-eyed bear, her tiny face finally peaceful in sleep.
""My mother died alone in an underfunded municipal clinic because my father was too arrogant to admit our family was falling apart from the inside,"" Dante said, his voice dropping into raw honesty. ""I swore that no child would ever suffer that fate in my city again. And Vincent... Vincent broke the only code that matters: he preyed on the helpless.""
He extended his gloved right hand toward Elena. ""A paper marriage, Miss Vance. For one year. We destroy Vincent, restore your sister's honor, secure Harrow Street for Sophie forever, and then you can take a five-million-dollar divorce settlement and walk away anywhere in the world.""
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Elena looked at his outstretched hand. Down in the bay, the tide slammed violently against the granite cliffs. She thought of Clara's last gasping breaths. She thought of Sophie's worn shoes.
She reached out and placed her hand firmly into Dante Moretti's grip. ""Get the paperwork ready.""
