Chapter 2 - The Poisoned Champagne
The entire ballroom collectively gasped as Camilla held the incriminating drive high above her head.
Enzo’s dark eyes locked onto the small silver device, but his stoic expression never wavered.
He didn't flinch or show a single ounce of fear in front of the whispering crowd.
Instead, he gently guided Adeline past his screaming ex-fiancée and directed her toward the highly restricted private wing of the mansion.
The heavy oak doors slammed shut behind them, instantly cutting off the vicious whispers of Chicago's elite.
Adeline winced in pain as she accidentally brushed her bleeding wrist against the soft fabric of his jacket.
"You really shouldn't have done that for me, Mr. Marchetti," she said softly, keeping her eyes lowered.
Enzo walked over to a crystal decanter, poured a neat glass of expensive bourbon, and offered it to her.
"Absolutely no one bleeds in my house unless I personally order it," he replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He stood perfectly still, studying the quiet defiance that seemed to hide just behind her terrified facade.
"Tell me the truth about why you took her glass, Adeline," Enzo demanded.
She hesitated for a moment, looking down at the oversized coat draped heavily over her small frame.
"Because I knew it wasn't just champagne inside her glass," Adeline finally confessed.
Enzo froze, the glass in his own hand stopping halfway to his mouth.
"I saw a waiter slip two drops of liquid belladonna into it while he was passing the tray," she continued.
"If she had taken even one sip, she would have been dead before the orchestra played the first dance," Adeline explained.
Enzo’s razor-sharp mind raced, rapidly analyzing the security protocols of his heavily guarded compound.
Only his most trusted, vetted men could have cleared a random waiter to serve drinks at the head table.
"Describe the exact appearance of that waiter to me right now," Enzo commanded, stepping closer to her.
"He had a very distinct black widow spider tattooed on the left side of his neck," Adeline answered without hesitation.
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Enzo suddenly shattered the heavy bourbon glass in his bare hand, completely ignoring the shards biting into his palm.
The only man in his entire organization with that specific tattoo was his trusted right-hand man, Marcus.
