Chapter 6 - The Wedding Contract
Elias stared at the dying assassin, his face an unreadable mask of stone.
He knew it was a desperate lie planted by Margaret Ashford to frame the maid.
Without a word, Elias pulled a revolver from his waistband and shot the assassin in the chest.
He turned his attention back to Maeve, who was shivering in his arms.
He gently carried her to the bed and called for his private physician.
Dr. Keller arrived within minutes and carefully bandaged the minor gunshot wound on her shoulder.
Elias stood by the door, watching Maeve with intense, calculated eyes.
This woman had thrown herself in front of bullets for a man she had met only hours ago.
She was braver than any soldier in his entire syndicate.
When the doctor left, Elias walked over to the edge of the bed.
"We are getting married tomorrow at noon," Elias announced firmly.
Maeve stared at him, wincing as she sat up against the pillows.
"Why?" Maeve asked, her voice trembling.
"Because the Ashfords will never stop trying to silence you now," Elias explained.
"If you become a Marchetti, touching you means starting a war with the entire Chicago underworld."
Maeve realized this terrifying mafia boss was actually trying to save her life.
The next morning, she was dressed in a simple white gown.
Elias stood waiting for her at the altar of his private estate chapel.
He was standing tall, no longer hiding behind the illusion of the wheelchair.
The priest began reciting the traditional vows in Latin.
Maeve looked into Elias's dark eyes and felt a strange, unexpected spark of safety.
"Does anyone object to this union?" the priest asked out of formal habit.
The heavy wooden doors of the chapel suddenly slammed open.
Everyone turned around in shock.
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Sienna Ashford stood in the doorway, staring angrily at Elias's perfectly healthy legs.
"The wedding is a fraud!" Sienna screamed.
