The reception lasted longer than Vanessa expected.
Music played softly in the massive hall while the most powerful figures of the city's underworld celebrated their king's wedding. Crystal glasses clinked, quiet laughter filled the air, and expensive champagne flowed like water.
To Vanessa, the entire scene felt surreal.
A detective surrounded by criminals.
A bride among enemies.
And the man responsible for all of it stood only a few steps away.
Gale De Luca leaned against a marble column, watching the room with the same calm expression he always wore. He held a glass of whiskey but hadn't taken a single sip in the last ten minutes.
Vanessa noticed.
He wasn't celebrating.
He was observing.
Calculating.
Her instincts as a detective immediately recognized the behavior. Gale wasn't relaxing during the reception of his own wedding.
He was studying everyone in the room.
She walked over to him.
"You look like a man attending a funeral instead of his wedding."
Gale's gaze shifted toward her slowly.
"You look like a woman planning a murder."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"Give it time."
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"That's what worries me."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Shouldn't you be entertaining your guests?"
"They're entertained."
"You haven't spoken to half the people here."
"I don't need to."
Vanessa glanced across the room again.
He was right.
People approached Gale, not the other way around.
Respect.
Fear.
Both looked the same when criminals showed them.
Vanessa noticed something else too.
Several men were watching her.
Not casually.
Carefully.
Measuring.
Judging the detective who had suddenly become the mafia king's wife.
"Your friends don't seem very friendly," she said quietly.
"They're not."
"That's comforting."
One of the men watching her finally approached.
Tall.
Broad.
With a thick beard and an expensive suit that couldn't hide the dangerous energy in his posture.
He stopped in front of Gale.
"Boss."
Gale nodded once.
"Marco."
Marco glanced briefly at Vanessa.
His eyes held curiosity, but not disrespect.
"This is the famous detective."
Vanessa extended her hand.
"Vanessa Rivera."
Marco hesitated for half a second before shaking it.
"Marco Silva."
His grip was firm.
"Right hand of the criminal empire?" she asked calmly.
Marco smirked slightly.
"I prefer logistics manager."
Vanessa almost laughed.
"That's one way to describe it."
Marco turned back to Gale.
"The security teams are rotating positions."
Gale nodded again.
"Good."
Marco leaned closer and lowered his voice slightly.
"There are rumors."
Vanessa listened carefully.
"About what?"
Marco glanced toward the crowd.
"Some people aren't happy about the marriage."
Vanessa tilted her head.
"Imagine that."
Gale didn't react.
"Names?"
"Victor Romano's people are here."
Vanessa noticed the slight shift in Gale's posture.
Interesting.
"Romano?" she asked.
Marco nodded.
"Another crime boss."
"Rival?"
Marco looked amused.
"Everyone is a rival in this business."
Vanessa scanned the room again.
"Which one is he?"
Marco pointed subtly toward the far side of the hall.
A man stood near the bar.
Older.
Silver hair.
Sharp eyes.
Even from across the room, Vanessa could feel the hostility.
Victor Romano was staring directly at her.
Vanessa smiled slightly and raised her glass toward him.
Romano didn't return the gesture.
He simply watched.
Gale spoke quietly beside her.
"He doesn't like surprises."
"Neither do I."
"You're the biggest surprise in the room."
Vanessa took a sip of champagne.
"I'll survive."
Gale's eyes remained on Romano.
"I hope so."
Before Vanessa could respond, Romano suddenly began walking toward them.
The room subtly quieted.
Conversations lowered.
People watched.
Marco sighed softly.
"This should be interesting."
Romano stopped in front of them.
Up close, he looked even more dangerous.
His gaze moved slowly from Gale to Vanessa.
"So it's true."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"What is?"
Romano smiled coldly.
"The king of the underworld married a police officer."
Gale's voice remained calm.
"Problem?"
Romano chuckled.
"No."
But his eyes said otherwise.
"I just didn't think you were the type to make emotional decisions."
Vanessa stepped forward slightly.
"This wasn't emotional."
Romano looked at her.
"And who are you?"
Vanessa smiled politely.
"The bride."
Romano studied her carefully.
"A detective."
"Yes."
"Interesting choice of career for someone marrying into crime."
Vanessa shrugged.
"I enjoy challenges."
Romano laughed.
"You won't survive here."
Vanessa's smile didn't fade.
"I've survived worse."
Romano glanced back at Gale.
"You're playing a dangerous game."
Gale answered simply.
"I know."
Romano's eyes darkened slightly.
"Let's see how long this marriage lasts."
He turned and walked away without another word.
The tension in the room slowly returned to normal.
Marco exhaled.
"He took that better than I expected."
Vanessa tilted her head.
"That was better?"
Marco nodded.
"Much better."
Gale finished his whiskey.
"Marco."
"Yes, boss."
"Double security tonight."
Marco immediately straightened.
"You think Romano will make a move?"
"I think he's already considering it."
Marco nodded.
"I'll handle it."
He walked away quickly.
Vanessa watched him go.
"You run a very cheerful organization."
"It's efficient."
Vanessa looked at Gale.
"So now what?"
"The guests will leave soon."
"And then?"
Gale's gaze shifted back to her.
"And then we go home."
Vanessa sighed.
"Your mansion."
"Our house."
She rolled her eyes.
"Don't push it."
—
An hour later the reception finally ended.
The last guests left the mansion.
The music stopped.
The silence felt strangely heavy after the noise of the celebration.
Vanessa walked through the large entrance hall again.
This time it felt different.
Quieter.
More dangerous.
Gale followed a few steps behind her.
"Your room is upstairs."
"My room?"
"Yes."
Vanessa stopped walking.
"You're not expecting me to share a bed with you."
Gale looked genuinely amused.
"No."
"Good."
"I prefer sleeping peacefully."
Vanessa scoffed.
"I'm sure."
They reached the staircase.
Gale gestured toward the second floor.
"Your room is the third door on the right."
"And yours?"
"The opposite side of the hall."
Vanessa narrowed her eyes.
"You trust me to sleep this close to you?"
Gale shrugged slightly.
"You already tried to arrest me."
"That wasn't the same thing."
Gale's expression shifted slightly.
"Wasn't it?"
Vanessa walked upstairs.
Her heels echoed softly against the marble steps.
She reached the hallway and stopped in front of the door Gale mentioned.
Before opening it, she turned back toward him.
"Just so we're clear," she said.
Gale leaned casually against the staircase railing.
"About what?"
"This marriage."
"Yes."
"It's temporary."
"Yes."
"And I'm still investigating you."
Gale's eyes darkened slightly.
"I assumed that."
Vanessa nodded.
"Good."
She opened the door.
The room inside was enormous.
Soft lighting.
Large windows overlooking the city.
A massive bed in the center.
Vanessa stepped inside.
"Well," she muttered.
"At least the prison cell is comfortable."
Gale's voice came from the doorway.
"If you need anything, the staff is downstairs."
Vanessa turned toward him.
"I only need one thing."
"And what's that?"
She looked directly into his eyes.
"The truth."
Gale studied her for several seconds.
Then he smiled slightly.
"You couldn't handle the truth."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Try me."
Gale pushed himself away from the doorway.
"Goodnight, Vanessa."
He began walking down the hallway.
Vanessa watched him go.
Then she said something that made him stop.
"You didn't marry me because the government told you to."
Gale didn't turn around.
Vanessa continued calmly.
"You wanted this."
Silence stretched across the hallway.
Finally, Gale spoke.
"You're a detective."
"Yes."
"So figure it out."
Then he walked away.
Vanessa stood alone in the doorway.
Her mind racing.
Because one thing about Gale De Luca was becoming very clear.
Nothing he did was accidental.
Which meant this marriage—
This entire situation—
Had been planned.
And she still didn't know why.