Chapter 3 - The Gala of Traitors
The discovery of Elena’s journal changed everything. The entries proved that Don Antonio Valenti, the head of the rival Valenti crime family, had orchestrated Elena’s disappearance to frame Vincent for murder and spark a war among the Five Families. Worse, Mrs. Gable confessed under interrogation that the Valentis were planning an ultimate strike: kidnapping Ethan during the annual Masquerade Ball at the Grand Plaza Hotel—the biggest gathering of elite society and mob bosses in New York.
Instead of hiding, Vincent decided to walk straight into the trap. And he was taking Maya with him.
"You don't have to do this," Vincent said, standing in Maya’s luxurious dressing room on the night of the ball.
Maya turned around from the mirror, and Vincent stopped dead in his tracks. She wore a floor-length emerald green silk gown that hugged her curves, her dark hair pinned up with delicate emerald clips, exposing her slender neck. She looked breathtaking—not like a waitress from Brooklyn, but like a queen stepping onto her throne.
Maya looked into Vincent’s eyes, seeing him dressed in a dark velvet tuxedo, looking lethally handsome. "Ethan is safe at a secure safehouse with Marcus and twenty of your best men. If attending this ball draws Valenti out into the open so you can put an end to this nightmare, I’m in."
Vincent stepped closer, his gaze burning through her. He reached out, his long fingers gently touching her chin. "You are extraordinary, Maya Bennett. Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me?"
Maya’s breath caught in her throat. The undeniable chemistry between them had been building for weeks, popping through every shared glance and midnight conversation. "Vincent..."
"Tonight, you walk in as my partner," Vincent whispered, his voice dark and velvety. "Let them see who stands by my side."
The Grand Plaza Hotel ballroom was a spectacle of gold, crystal, and masked intrigue. Hundreds of wealthy elite, corrupt politicians, and dangerous mobsters danced beneath glittering chandeliers, wearing elaborate Venetian masks.
When Vincent and Maya entered, the room went dead quiet. Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Is that Caruso?" "Who is the woman with him?" "She looks like royalty..."
Maya kept her head high, holding Vincent’s arm securely. Beside them walked two undercover bodyguards disguised as guests.
"Don Valenti is at the VIP balcony," Vincent murmured against Maya’s ear, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. "Keep your mask on. We play his game until he makes his move."
Vincent led Maya onto the dance floor. As the orchestra struck up a dramatic waltz, Vincent pulled her close, his strong hand settling on the small of her back. They moved seamlessly together, their eyes locked, ignoring the dark stares of the crowd.
"You dance well for a man who spends his time running an empire," Maya teased softly, trying to ease her nerves.
"My mother forced me to learn," Vincent replied with a rare, devastating smile that made Maya’s heart skip a beat. "She said a leader must know how to lead in every arena."
Suddenly, a tall, older man with a silver mask and a cruel smile approached the edge of the dance floor, flanked by three heavy hitters. Antonio Valenti.
"Vincent," Valenti sneered, holding a glass of scotch. "I was surprised to see you here tonight. I heard you were busy mourning your late wife... or looking for her ghost."
Vincent stopped dancing, stepping in front of Maya in a protective stance. "Antonio. I hear you've been taking a sudden interest in my family's affairs. And my household staff."
Valenti’s smile faded slightly. "Business is business, Caruso. The city is changing. Old blood needs to step down."
"Old blood knows how to clean trash," Vincent retorted smoothly. "If you touch a single thread of my family again, Antonio, I won't just kill you. I will erase your name from this city."
Valenti laughed, though his eyes burned with malice. "Bold words for a man whose son is currently unprotected."
Maya’s blood ran cold. Valenti signaled with his hand.
At that exact moment, the lights in the grand ballroom cut out completely, plunging the massive room into total darkness!
Panic erupted instantly. Screams echoed as guests scattered, glasses shattered, and gunshots rang through the pitch-black air!
"Maya!" Vincent’s voice roared through the chaos.
May you like
Before Maya could react, a rough hand grabbed her arm from behind, pulling her away from Vincent. A cloth soaked in a sweet, chemical odor was slammed over her nose and mouth. She kicked and hit wildly, but her strength quickly faded.
As her consciousness slipped away, she heard Vincent’s desperate, terrifying roar echo through the darkness: "MAYA!"
