Chapter 7 - The Grand Wedding
The grand cathedral downtown was surrounded by black-suited security and heavy media presence. It was the wedding of the year—a union between the most feared syndicate boss in the city and the mysterious woman who had captured his cold heart.
Inside, the pews were packed with high-ranking politicians, international arms dealers, and underworld bosses who had flown in just to ensure they were on Cassius Grey's good side.
Aria walked down the grand aisle wearing a breathtaking, custom-designed white silk gown, her hair swept up elegantly, her expression serene and composed. No one looking at her would ever guess she had a custom tactical blade strapped to her thigh beneath the lace.
At the altar stood Cassius, dressed in a sharp black tuxedo, watching her approach with a gaze that held a terrifying, absolute possessiveness.
When she reached him, the priest began the traditional ceremony, his voice echoing off the ancient stone walls.
"Do you, Cassius Grey, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do," Cassius said clearly, his eyes never leaving hers.
"And do you, Aria Sterling, take this man..."
She paused for a fraction of a second, letting the real name hang in the quiet air of the church, before looking right into his eyes with a fierce, brilliant smile.
"I do."
As they exchanged rings, a sudden commotion erupted at the heavy oak doors of the cathedral.
Before the security guards could react, a dozen federal agents and armed syndicate enforcers—led by a corrupt senior official who had funded the original hit on the Sterling family ten years ago—stormed into the aisle, guns drawn.
"Nobody moves!" the official screamed, pointing his weapon directly at Cassius and Aria. "Cassius Grey, you're under arrest for federal conspiracy, money laundering, and treason against the council!"
The entire church erupted into sheer panic. Guests screamed and scrambled under the pews.
Cassius didn't even flinch. He didn't reach for a hidden weapon. Instead, he simply looked at the armed intruders with a cold, mocking smile, and stepped slightly to the side.
"You're a little late to the party, Senator," Cassius called out smoothly.
Aria moved with lightning speed. Slipping past her husband, she unclipped the hidden blade from her thigh, vaulted over the front pew, and landed directly in front of the lead enforcer before he could pull his trigger. With a single, brutal sweep, she kicked the weapon out of his hand and slammed him hard into the stone floor, pinning him beneath her knee.
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From the side doors, Dante’s private security detail—and Cassius's loyal inner circle—swarmed the cathedral, neutralizing the remaining intruders in seconds.
The battle was over before it even truly began.
