Page 92 of Third Comes Vengeance

I don’t care what anyone says about revenge not being satisfying. Murdering De Luca with my own hands was exactly what I needed. I’ll happily shoot Mayor Romano full of bullets or stab him in the throat. Whatever Chiara wants.

“Dad has a campaign rally next week,” Chiara tells us. “What do you all think of some public vengeance?”

I give her a broad smile. “Baby, tell me more.”

21

Chiara

Anew beginning for Coldlake!

The mayor’s campaign banner in shades of black and gold stretches across the stage. The podium stands empty and waiting for him.

All around me, people are buzzing with excitement and waving little black and gold flags and cardboard signs like this is a parade. They’re energized in anticipation of an easy win. Dad’s opponent has been torn apart by the press and on social media, and his rallies are a flop. I’d feel sorry for Christian Galloway if he hadn’t refused to pull out of the race and let his running mate, a composed and intelligent woman, take his place. His career is over but he’s too stubborn to realize.

I’m three rows back, right in front of the podium. A brown wig conceals my hair, and I have dark sunglasses over my face. The loose black dress I’m wearing can’t conceal my bump, so I sit with my arms wrapped around my belly.

Can you feel where we are, little one? We have an excellent seat for grandpa’s demise.

Somewhere behind me, my four men are concealed among the crowd, dressed inconspicuously and concealing weapons.

A few minutes later, loud music plays and Dad strides out onto the stage, confident and smiling. I saw him like this so many times. In earlier years, Mom and I would be up there with him, applauding with everyone else.

Dad launches into his speech and he’s polished and engaging as always. He draws many cheers from the crowd.

“There’s a bright future for Coldlake. A new beginning! But first, let’s see just how far we’ve come.”

Dad steps aside and smiles up at the huge screen over the stage. A trailer starts to play with energetic music and sweeping shots of the city.

Suddenly, the music cuts out and the picture changes. In place of the smiling family riding bicycles around the lake is a stark basement with rough brick walls and a concrete floor. Two people are tied to chairs in the middle of the shot.

One dark-haired man. One blonde woman.

There are gasps from the crowd as they realize who they are. The mayor, only he doesn’t look anything like the mayor they know and love, and his daughter. Mayor Romano’s normally so friendly and open expression is cold and closed, and his heart is closed to the daughter weeping quietly beside him.

And then they hear their conversation.

I suppose you thought you’d impress the Coldlake Syndicate when you killed Mom.

Slitting that woman’s throat is the best thing I ever did.

The whole time the video is playing, the mayor frantically tries to have his audiovisual people turn it off, but for some reason, they’re not listening to him.

A few minutes later, the screen goes black, but not because the video has been turned off. We’ve shown everyone what they needed to see, for now. The full video is being emailed to every newspaper in the city and posted all over social media.

Everyone in Coldlake is going to have watched this video by the end of the night.

They’ll see how Vinicius and I tricked Dad into speaking, but they’ll understand the truth of what Dad said. He knew who the Coldlake killer was all these years and did nothing.

And he murdered Mom.

There’s shocked silence from the crowd, and then the murmuring begins.

I stand up and take my wig and glasses off. I’m the only one standing, and I feel people’s attention pulled to me. I do nothing except stand and watch Dad.

And wait.

It doesn’t take long, just a few seconds. Dad’s panicked gaze lands on me and his eyes narrow. “You did this, you spiteful bitch.”

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