Chapter 69 Sixty Nine
“Take your hand off her.”
The words never left Salvatore’s mouth. They echoed only inside his head. His gaze remained fixed on Matthew’s hand resting over Mira’s. He had placed his hand over hers for a brief moment.
It was enough. Enough for something dark to stir inside Salvatore.
He’d seen enough. Without another thought, he started toward them. No one watching would have guessed murder was crossing his mind.
Inside the lounge, Matthew slowly withdrew his hand.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Mira looked down at her hand before meeting his eyes. “It’s fine.”
Matthew gave a sad smile. “Am glad I ran into you today.”
Before she could say something, a familiar voice cut through the silence.
“Am I interrupting?”
Mira looked up. Her stomach dropped.
Salvatore stood at the entrance of the lounge, one hand tucked into his pocket, the other adjusting the cuff of his tuxedo as though he’d only just arrived.
His eyes were calm.
Matthew immediately stood. “So this is the man you came here with,” he said.
Salvatore’s eyes moved to him. “And you must be Matthew Hayes.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Matthew’s face. “I don’t think never met.”
“We haven’t.”
“Then how do you know my name?”
Salvatore smiled politely. “I make it my business to know the people around Miss Voss.”
Mira’s jaw tightened. “There it is,” she muttered.
“There what is?” Salvatore asked, looking at her.
“Your usual rudeness .”
His smile never faded. “Is this rude for you, darling, that I am being careful?”
“For me?” Mira asked.
“Yeah, and for everyone under my care.”
She rolled her eyes.
Matthew looked between them, sensing the tension.
“I don’t mean to intrude.”
“You already have,” Salvatore replied coldly, his eyes never leaving Matthew. The room fell silent.
Mira shot Salvatore an irritated look. “That was unnecessary.”
“Me being honest.” His eyes met hers. “Isn’t unnecessary.”
Matthew studied him for a moment. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Corvin.”
“I’m sure you have.” Salvatore said, his eyes on him and his hand tucked in his pocket” So what have you heard?”
“Most of it wasn’t flattering,” Matthew said, his eyes holding Salvatore, not backing
Salvatore gave a slight nod. “I’ve learned not to lose sleep over useless opinions .”
Matthew smiled faintly. “I expect nothing less from a Corvin.”
For a few seconds, the two men simply looked at one another. Neither smiled. Neither looked away. Mira suddenly felt as though the temperature in the room had dropped.
Salvatore finally broke the silence.” The mayor is about to begin his speech.”He looked at Mira.“I came to get you.”
“I know where the ballroom is,” Mira said harshly
“I never said you didn’t,” Salvatore said calmly
“Then I don’t need you to come get me.”
“I know.” He said, smiling. “I just wanted you near me.”
She sighed.
Every answer was calm. Every answer somehow irritated her even more.
Matthew looked at Mira. “I won’t keep you.”
She gave him a small nod. “We’re not finished talking.”
“Yeah,” Matthew said softly.”We would continue this some other time. I would call you.”
“You don’t have my number,” Mira said
“You’ll be shocked,” Matthew said, giving her a warm smile.
Salvatore heard every word. His expression didn’t change. But something in his eyes hardened.
“Miss Voss,” he said. “The mayor doesn’t enjoy waiting.”
She turned toward him. “I’m not one of your employees. I’m not someone you can order around.”
“I never said you were, or did I try to make you do what you don’t want”
“Then stop acting as if you own me.”
A faint smile touched his lips. “I’ve been trying very hard not to.”
She stared at him. “Can we just go”
Matthew watched the exchange in silence.
One thing became painfully clear. Whatever existed between these two… It was far more dangerous than either of them was willing to admit.
The ballroom slowly quieted as the mayor stepped onto the stage. The orchestra lowered their instruments. Conversations faded into whispers before disappearing altogether.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the mayor began with a warm smile. “Thank you all for joining us tonight.”
Applause echoed through the ballroom.
Salvatore stood beside Mira near the front of the room, though there was enough distance between them to make it clear they weren’t standing together by choice.
Matthew had remained toward the back of the crowd. Mira folded her arms, pretending to listen to the speech while her eyes wandered around the room.
Old habit. A reporter never stopped observing. She wondered where Anna was.
“The funds raised tonight,” the mayor continued, “will help build a new children’s hospital for families who cannot afford treatment.”
Another round of applause followed.
Salvatore barely heard a word.
Something felt… he kept searching for the man he had seen earlier. His eyes swept across the ballroom.
Then…a figure appeared hidden in a place you could barely notice. On the second-floor balcony overlooking the ballroom. A man dressed as a member of the catering staff stepped behind a marble pillar.
Salvatore’s eyes narrowed.
The man wasn’t watching the mayor.
He wasn’t watching the crowd.
Saltavtore followed his eyes… he was looking at….Mira.
His instincts screamed. The man’s hand disappeared beneath the white serving jacket.
When it emerged again… There was a pistol fitted with a suppressor.
Time seemed to stop. The barrel slowly lifted.
Not toward the mayor. Not toward him. Toward Mira.
Salvatore didn’t think. “Mira!” His voice thundered across the ballroom.
Every head turned. Mira turned to look at him, confusion flashing across her face.
“What—”
Before she could finish, Salvatore lunged. He wrapped one arm around her waist and shoved her with all his strength.
The sound barely resembled a gunshot. A violent force slammed into Salvatore’s shoulder.
His body jerked violently blood spills across the front of his white shirt. Mira hit the polished floor hard, sliding several feet across the marble.
She looked up just in time to see Salvatore stagger backward.
For one impossible second… He remained standing.
Then his knees buckled. The crystal glass slipped from his hand and shattered against the floor.
Gasps erupted throughout the ballroom.
Someone screamed. Then another.
The orchestra stopped playing. Guests scattered in every direction as panic swept through the room.
“It’s a gunshot!” someone shouted. “Everybody get down!”
Bodyguards drew their weapons. Several rushed toward the balcony.
The gunman fired again. The second shot struck one of Salvatore’s guards in the chest before the assassin disappeared into the darkness beyond the balcony doors.
“Seal every exit!” Antonio roared as he shoved people aside, sprinting toward Salvatore.
“Nobody leaves this building!”
The ballroom erupted into complete chaos.
Mira pushed herself off the floor, ignoring the pain shooting through her knees.
Her eyes found Salvatore.
He was on one knee now, one hand pressed firmly against his bleeding shoulder.
Blood seeped steadily between his fingers, staining his black tuxedo.
“Salvatore!” Mira screamed without realizing it.
He lifted his head.
Even now… Even while bleeding…
His first instinct wasn’t to check himself. His hazel eyes desperately searched the crowd until they found hers.
“…Are you hurt?” he asked hoarsely.
Mira stared at him in disbelief.
He’d just taken a bullet. And he was asking about her