Page 147 of Auctioned Innocence
The satisfying thud of Lorenzo hitting the ground, followed by Dante’s knee on his back and zip-ties securing his wrists, is almost worth everything he put me through.
Almost.
“Sofia!” Dante’s eyes find mine over Lorenzo’s prone form, quickly checking for injuries.
“I’m okay.” Mostly true. “But we need to?—”
“Viktor’s presenting to the Council,” he says, pulling me close. “Your father and Mario are there, but they’re outnumbered. Your intelligence package helped, but Viktor’s presentation is convincing. The Council is starting to buy his version of events.”
Understanding dawns on Lorenzo’s face, and his smile returns. “You’re too late. Viktor’s had an hour to make his case. By now, the Council believes the Renaldis are a threat to stability.”
“Maybe,” I say, fighting down another wave of nausea. “But Viktor’s about to get some unexpected visitors.”
More explosions outside. Marco’s voice comes through comms, “Building secure. Transport ready. We need to move if we’re going to make it to the Council chambers.”
I look at the men who tried to break me. Who thought they could control me.
Who have no idea what I’ve become.
“Shall we end this?” I ask Dante.
His kiss is quick but fierce. “I thought you’d never ask.”
James’s bitter laugh cuts off as Dante secures Lorenzo’s restraints. “You really think they’ll believe you over Viktor? You have no idea what you’re walking into.”
I don’t respond, but my mind is racing. An hour. Viktor’s had an entire hour to make his case to the Council, to present his carefully crafted evidence, to turn them against my family. How much damage has already been done? How many Council members have already made up their minds?
“We need to—Dante, we have to move,” I tell him, my voice tight. “Like, now. Right now.”
He curses. “Let’s go.”
I don’t say anything else with Lorenzo and James listening. I can’t let them know how worried I am about the timing, about whether we’re already too late.
Marco’s voice crackles through comms again: “Let’s go, Sofia—traffic to the Council chambers is getting heavy.”
More people arriving for Viktor’s presentation. More witnesses to whatever narrative he’s spinning about my family’s “crimes.”
We have to hurry. Every second counts.
33
DANTE
The ride to the Council chambers is tense, sirens wailing as our convoy races through the city. Sofia sits rigid beside me, monitoring radio chatter about Viktor’s ongoing presentation.
“How long has he been speaking?” she asks Marco through comms.
“Ninety minutes,” comes the reply. “The DeLucas are holding their ground, but some of the smaller families are starting to waver. Viktor’s evidence is…compelling.”
“It would be,” Sofia mutters, jaw tight. “Lorenzo’s been building it for years.”
I catch her hand, squeezing once. “We’ll make it.”
“We have to.” Her eyes are fierce, determined. “Whatever it takes.”
Behind us, Lorenzo and James are secured in the second vehicle under heavy guard—zip-tied, bleeding, but alive to face justice. I made sure of that personally.
The Council building looms ahead, its classical columns lit against the night sky. Through the tall windows, I can see the packed chamber, Viktor commanding attention at thepodium while Council members lean forward, absorbed by his presentation.
