Page 79 of Forced Bratva Bride

My lungs feel as though they are about to collapse when he says those words.

I wish I'd had more time with Max so that I could warn him.

I slip my arm through my father’s and follow him, feeling even more anxious than before.

Chapter 25 - Maxim

I watch from the darkness as Chiara gracefully eases her way back into the party and ‘bumps’ into her father. She handles everything well, and her father does not seem to suspect anything.

“Come, it’s time,” he says to her, and I instantly know that something is wrong.

Chiara glances around the crowd, looking worried, but then follows her father.

I step back into the party once they are far enough away from me, and the first thing that I notice is that most of Angelo’s men are no longer here.

Only his two bodyguards remain, following him closely. Where are the rest of his men?

I hurry through the party, trying to find my brothers, whispering to them that something is going on and that they should be on high alert to figure out what it is.

Then I turn my attention back to Angelo and Chiara. My brothers will have to keep an eye on the party; I have to keep an eye on my wife.

From a distance, I see Angelo lean close to Chiara and whisper something in her ear. Her face tenses, just for a second. A look of nausea seems to flash across her eyes, and I swear the color drains from her cheeks. But then it is gone, and she plasters a smile across her beautiful lips, those dimples that I love so much stealing everyone’s admiration as she steps onto the patio step.

“Everyone, could I just have your attention for a moment?” she calls out, and behind her the music pauses. “I won’t take up too much of your time, I promise.” The sweet sound of her laughter is tainted with a nervous energy. “I know we are all here to celebrate our connections, and strengths. I just wanted to say a few words, that are important for everyone to hear.”

Someone hands her a microphone. “Thank you so much.” She smiles politely.

When she speaks into it, her voice carries more clearly to everyone listening. The entire party hushes into silence, and everyone turns towards her, waiting to hear what she has to say. My eyes dart from her to the sea of faces looking up at her.

I tell myself to breathe and trust her. I keep repeating it in my mind. She knows what she's doing.

“There have been some difficult times lately. I know you've all felt the effects of them. But you still came out, and I am so grateful that everyone could still be here tonight, to be together, as we should be, and show our strength despite the constant challenges we have been facing. My father, Angelo Napoli, and I, would like to send out our love and support to the families of those who were lost in these senseless attacks.”

A murmur sweeps through the crowd.

“We need to stand together in times like these, and together we can face the people responsible. We can get through this and come out stronger on the other side of it. My father and I are here to support you, and we want to assure you that anyone who needs anything, anything at all, can feel free to come and talk to us. We are here for you. In the meantime, though, tonight is about the blue sky, and the red fires—"

My brow shoots up and I tilt my head toward her.

Blue sky. Red Fire.

Her speech continues, “The red fires of our hearts, as we unite in difficult times, and face the salted earth together.” Her eyes are locked onto me.

Salted earth.

She is doing everything she can to warn me. Angelo has planted explosives at this party. I have to find them, now.

She remembered the codewords I shared with her the first time I took her to my warehouse. I knew she would find a way to tell me what was going on.

My heart is shattering my insides as I try to decide the best way to keep everyone safe. What I have to do. What is about to happen. My mind is spinning wildly.

I start searching for my brothers. Before things get crazy, we have to find those bombs.

While Chiara keeps her father distracted with her speech, I manage to tell my brothers what's going on, and that Angelo’s men are missing. They immediately jump to action, searching for Angelo’s missing people.

We quickly locate them, knowing the property better than anyone, and with each of his men, we find an explosive. They've been patiently waiting for his signal, the right moment to active each bomb.

Chiara is still talking to the crowd when I make my way back outside. Now all I have to do is get her somewhere safe.

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