Page 101 of Shadow Undercover

“I’ll notify Maddox. The feds are a few minutes away. They’ll scoop him up when he leaves the hacienda tonight,” Nico said.

One less thing to worry about.

Hugo raised his hand again to quiet the crowd. “The second surprise of this evening is one I’ve been waiting a long time to share with you, my beloved neighbors, friends, and business partner. Please, join me in welcoming to Ciudad de Oro my beautiful bride-to-be, a woman I’ve longed to wed for months.” He smiled, triumph in his eyes. “She has led me on a merry chase, this one. But I’ve finally worn down her resistance.” Hugo motioned with his hand and the double doors were opened to reveal a tall, thin, blond woman of stunning beauty, one Trace recognized from the myriad photos plastered over magazine covers around the world.

“My friends, please welcome the woman I will marry tonight in a very private ceremony. Roxanne.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Bridget watched in horror as her sister walked into the large room with Fernando’s hand clamped around her upper arm. Ruth’s face was bone white, almost as white as the glittering dress she wore, a dress more revealing than Bridget had ever seen her sister wear even on the runway.

Under the table, her hand gripped Trace’s as she realized what Ruth was wearing. A wedding dress, one that must have cost an enormous sum of money based on the amount of lace and jewels decorating the material.

She clamped down on her desire to whisk Ruth away from the people standing and cheering Hugo’s good fortune. Didn’t they notice how terrified she was?

Now wasn’t the time to act. She and Trace were alone in a house filled with deluded folks. Aside from his employees, no one knew that inside the handsome exterior lived an evil monster.

Bridget kept her expression neutral. Pain and fear for her sister grew until she had to look away. The safest place to focus her gaze was on Trace.

She turned toward him and Trace wrapped his arm around her. He bent his head to lightly brush his lips over hers before kissing a trail to her ear while the crowd clapped.

“Ruth is here, Nico,” he murmured against her ear.

“Solves another problem. Our timetable just moved up and all our targets are together.”

“He’s planning to marry her tonight.”

“Not on our watch,” Ben snapped.

Hugo silenced the crowd again. “Thank you for joining me this evening. My lovely Roxanne and I will be hosting a grand reception in two weeks to celebrate our marriage. You’re invited to attend. I ask that you wait until the reception to congratulate us on our joyful union.” He lifted Ruth’s hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “I plan to spend every minute enjoying my bride for the next few weeks.”

While the crowd laughed, Bridget seethed. Didn’t the audience see Ruth’s subtle flinch at Hugo’s declaration?

“Thank you again for coming tonight to celebrate my good fortune. We have a few more preparations to complete before we’re ready to exchange vows. I bid you a good night.” As applause broke out again and people began to leave the room, Hugo motioned for Fernando to escort Ruth from the room. When Ruth resisted, the guard forced Bridget’s sister to a door behind Hugo.

“Phantom is clear,” Nico said. “The gas is secure.”

“ETA?”

“Ten minutes.”

Ten minutes. More like an eternity. Bridget hoped Hugo would take care of business matters, like his deal with Wallace, before marrying Ruth.

What if he didn’t? She breathed past the panic swelling inside her. No court in the US would uphold a marriage where either party was forced into the agreement. Besides, Hugo was anxious to sell the chlorine and establish himself as a premier weapons dealer. The odds of the crime boss wanting Wallace to attend the private wedding were low.

“We’ll be home soon,” Trace murmured under the conversations of the chattering crowd. “All of us.”

She heard the unspoken message. Ruth would be with them. Those few words and the utter confidence he projected infused her with grim determination. No matter what obstacles they faced, Ruth Monihan was leaving her velvet prison tonight.

Bulky lumbered up to their table. He directed Judge Garcia to the courtyard to await the arrival of the bride and groom.

The crime boss had planned every detail. Who better to take care of the legalities quickly and quietly than a sitting judge? If the bride was reluctant to wed, Hugo would offer Garcia an appropriate amount of money to keep silent about the matter.

Garcia and his wife left the room, following a second guard who would escort them to the appropriate place.

Bulky motioned for Trace to follow him. “Not your woman. Only you. Boss’s orders.”

“Go, Trace,” Nico said. “You told Hugo you don’t take your woman on a job.”

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