Chapter 12 - Morning of the Wedding
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Saturday morning broke with gray, heavy clouds that threatened to wash out the stained-glass windows of the cathedral. Inside the bridal suite, surrounded by oblivious bridesmaids and frantic makeup artists, I sat perfectly still while they laced me into a fifty-thousand-dollar silk gown.
I felt nothing. No wedding day jitters, no heartbreak. I was operating with the cold, mechanical precision of a soldier preparing for an ambush.
At 11:00 AM, there was a knock on the door. Detective Alvarez slipped into the room, wearing a sophisticated navy dress that perfectly disguised the Kevlar vest beneath it. She was posing as an old college friend.
She walked over and handed me my bridal bouquet—a stunning arrangement of white roses and baby’s breath.
“The stem is hollowed out,” Alvarez whispered, leaning in as if adjusting my veil. “There is a high-frequency directional mic taped beneath the silk ribbon. The warrant team is parked in a catering van right outside the side entrance. We’ve cloned Evan’s laptop MAC address. The moment he triggers that final financial transfer, we will intercept the destination routing.”
“What if he doesn't do it at the altar?” I asked quietly.
“He’s an arrogant adrenaline junkie,” Alvarez replied grimly. “He wants to steal your company while simultaneously holding your hand in front of God. He’ll do it.”
I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like a pristine, innocent sacrifice wrapped in white tulle.
“Are you ready for this, Mara?” Alvarez asked. “Once you walk down that aisle, there is no going back. It’s going to get ugly.”
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I reached out and unclasped the heavy diamond cuff Evan had given me, dropping it into the trash can.
“Let it get ugly,” I said.
