Chapter 5 - The Woman in the Red Dress
At seven thirty that evening, Federica Ferrari walked down the staircase of the Romano estate wearing a red dress and enough hidden surveillance equipment to make Marco deeply unhappy.
“You look like bait,” he said.
Federica adjusted one earring.
“I am bait.”
“That was not a compliment.”
“I didn’t take it as one.”
Marco checked the tiny microphone concealed beneath the jewelry.
“No unnecessary risks.”
“Define unnecessary.”
“Anything you would normally do.”
“That feels personal.”
“It is.”
Gabriele appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
Federica stopped.
He wore a black tuxedo.
Simple.
Perfectly fitted.
Nothing flashy.
He did not need anything flashy.
Every room eventually rearranged itself around Gabriele Romano.
His eyes moved toward Federica.
And stayed there.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Marco looked between them.
“I’m leaving.”
Neither responded.
Federica descended the remaining stairs.
“You’re staring.”
“Yes.”
“You could attempt subtlety.”
“I have never needed it.”
“That explains a great deal.”
Gabriele offered his arm.
She looked at it.
“We’re pretending to be a couple?”
“We need a reason to remain together all evening.”
“You are my employer.”
“That attracts gossip.”
“This won’t?”
“It will attract different gossip.”
Federica hesitated.
Then took his arm.
His hand covered hers.
Warm.
Steady.
Dangerously reassuring.
“We get my aunt,” Federica said. “Then we leave.”
“Yes.”
“No revenge.”
He did not answer.
“Gabriele.”
“We get your aunt.”
“That was not what I said.”
“It is the part I agreed to.”
She exhaled.
“Infuriating.”
“I have been called worse.”
“I’m sure.”
The St. Vincent gala occupied the grand ballroom of one of Chicago’s oldest hotels.
Crystal chandeliers.
Champagne.
Black tuxedos.
Designer gowns.
Politicians.
Surgeons.
Developers.
People who appeared in society pages and pretended they had never heard the names Romano or Sterling whispered in darker rooms.
Federica felt every eye turn when she entered beside Gabriele.
She disliked it immediately.
“Everyone is staring.”
“They are staring at me.”
“No.”
Gabriele glanced at her.
“They are not.”
Federica ignored him.
Marco’s voice came faintly through her earpiece.
“North entrance clear.”
Security teams blended into the room.
Federica scanned faces.
Then she saw Evelyn Sterling.
Elegant.
Silver-blonde hair.
Ivory gown.
Sixty years old and carrying herself with the calm of someone who had never once been told she was dangerous.
Victor Sterling stood beside her.
Broad.
Loud.
Smiling.
The kind of man people assumed controlled everything.
Federica knew better now.
Evelyn saw them.
Her smile widened.
“Gabriele.”
He kissed her cheek with ceremonial politeness.
“Evelyn.”
Her eyes moved to Federica.
“So this is the accountant.”
Federica smiled.
“And you’re the philanthropist.”
Something flickered behind Evelyn’s eyes.
Amusement.
“Sharp.”
“I get that often.”
Victor joined them.
He looked at Gabriele.
“I heard about trouble downtown.”
“Chicago has lots of trouble.”
“So I’m told.”
Their smiles contained no warmth.
Evelyn turned to Federica.
“Walk with me.”
Gabriele spoke immediately.
“No.”
Evelyn smiled.
“Your aunt is waiting.”
Federica felt Gabriele’s arm tighten beneath her hand.
She whispered, “I have to.”
“I don’t trust her.”
“Neither do I.”
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
Federica continued quietly.
“If she wanted both of us, she would have requested both.”
“I do not care what she requested.”
“I do.”
She squeezed his arm.
“We need her talking.”
Gabriele stared at her.
“You have five minutes.”
“Seven.”
“Five.”
“Six.”
“Federica.”
“Fine.”
Evelyn watched them with fascination.
“How domestic.”
Gabriele’s expression darkened.
Federica released his arm and followed Evelyn through the ballroom.
They entered a private gallery lined with old paintings.
Evelyn walked slowly.
“No fear?”
“Plenty.”
“You hide it well.”
“So do you.”
Evelyn smiled.
“I understand why Gabriele likes you.”
Federica stopped.
“He doesn’t.”
“My dear.”
Evelyn actually laughed.
“Men like Gabriele do not put eight armed people in a hotel because of employees.”
Federica’s heartbeat changed.
She kept her face neutral.
“Where is my aunt?”
“Safe.”
“I want proof.”
Evelyn handed her a phone.
Video.
Federica’s aunt Rosa sat in a comfortable-looking room.
Alive.
Angry.
“If that woman thinks kidnapping me means I won’t complain about the coffee, she’s mistaken.”
Federica nearly cried.
That sounded exactly like Rosa.
The video ended.
“What do you want?” Federica asked.
Evelyn’s smile vanished.
“A ledger.”
“You already have accountants.”
“Not like you.”
“You spent six months watching me to reach that conclusion?”
“I spent six months watching you because you found something men paid millions to hide.”
“The Gray network.”
“Yes.”
“Why kill Matteo?”
Evelyn’s eyes cooled.
“He became inconvenient.”
“And Gabriele’s father?”
“Inconvenient earlier.”
Federica felt anger rise.
“You say murder like it’s bookkeeping.”
“Everything is bookkeeping.”
Evelyn stepped closer.
“People are assets, liabilities, leverage, losses.”
“That’s where we differ.”
“Do we?”
“Yes.”
“Your employer doesn’t.”
Federica said nothing.
Evelyn smiled.
“You think Gabriele is noble because he holds a baby gently?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“He’s complicated.”
“That is the polite word.”
“What’s the impolite one?”
“Murderer.”
Federica’s expression barely changed.
She had known Gabriele’s world was violent.
But hearing the word said so cleanly still struck her.
Evelyn noticed.
“Has he not told you everything?”
“I didn’t ask for his autobiography.”
“You should.”
“Where is Rosa?”
“Soon.”
Evelyn opened her handbag.
Removed a small flash drive.
“I need you to unlock a Romano account.”
“No.”
“You haven’t heard the offer.”
“I don’t need to.”
“Your aunt lives.”
Federica’s jaw tightened.
Evelyn continued.
“Gabriele lives too.”
Federica stared.
“What?”
Evelyn smiled.
“He has been poisoned.”
For one terrifying second, Federica’s world became silent.
“What did you say?”
“A slow compound.”
“You’re lying.”
“Am I?”
Evelyn looked toward the ballroom.
Federica followed her gaze.
Gabriele stood beside Marco.
Then suddenly Gabriele touched the edge of a table.
His face changed.
Marco reached for him.
Federica stopped breathing.
Evelyn whispered, “He has perhaps twenty minutes.”
Federica lunged toward the ballroom.
Evelyn caught her wrist.
“The antidote is with your aunt.”
Federica looked back.
“You touch him—”
“What?”
Evelyn’s eyes gleamed.
“The helpless accountant will threaten me?”
Federica became very still.
That word.
Helpless.
The same mistake.
Again.
She looked at the flash drive.
“What account?”
Evelyn relaxed.
“That’s better.”
Federica took it.
But what Evelyn Sterling did not know was that Federica had learned something in the warehouse.
People who believed they had frightened you stopped watching what your hands were doing.
And while Evelyn watched Federica’s face, Federica pressed the emergency sequence hidden in her ring.
Three taps.
Pause.
Two.
A signal went directly to Marco.
Then Federica smiled.
“Take me to my aunt.”
Across the ballroom, Gabriele collapsed.
Guests screamed.
Marco caught him.
And for the second time in twenty-four hours, Federica Ferrari realized that everyone was waiting for someone stronger to save the day.
May you like
Unfortunately for Evelyn Sterling, the strongest person in the room was not always the one carrying a gun.
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