Dante waited at Madison’s place for Zoe to bring her home, but she didn’t show. He tried contacting Madison, but she wasn’t answering her phone or any of the texts he sent. He called the guys he had tailing her to learn where she was. He realized she wasn’t coming home and he left. He needed finish things up before the sting operation. He would have to talk to Madison later. As long as he had eyes on her and knew she was safe he was ok. For now. It wouldn’t last long.
****
Madison got dressed for the funeral. It would be at the funeral home since Henry hadn’t been part of a church. They had been able to do things fast. Madison still hadn’t had any contact from Sabrina, although she had texted her the information for Henry’s service. She wasn’t sure if she would show.
Zoe had offered to pick Madison up, but she didn’t want to burden her. The service was going to be small, because things had happened so fast, some people hadn’t been able to attend. It would just be Madison and her parents and some friends.
Madison stood beside the coffin. They had done a nice job. If she squinted, she could pretend that Henry was asleep. She still didn’t believe it. But she had no time to grieve. Her dress would show at fashion week this weekend. She still needed that job and the steady income it would bring.
Not only that, but this was her dream. The one thing that she had and loved and that she had pursued even when her mom had suggested something else for Madison. She stayed the course. Even at eighteen she knew that doing what her mother wanted wouldn’t get her her mother’s love. She didn’t have enough left for Madison.
The door opened, and Madison turned to see who was coming to the service late. It was Dante. Their eyes met, and there was that pull, that spark, that joy at seeing him and she broke eye contact and faced the front.
She couldn’t believe he had shown up. How had he found out? Had Sabrina told him? And where was she? The service was bordering on being over. Madison could feel Dante’s eyes on her back, and her nipples hardened and she squeezed her inner thighs together. This wasn’t the time or the place, but he had that effect on her.
The service ended, and they filed out of the building to head to the burial site.
“Oh look, your nice young man is here. Let’s ride with him.” Her mother walked over to Dante and hugged his arm to her chest.
“I have room.”
Of course he would. Zoe stood beside her. “Great, then you guys can go with Dante and I’ll go with Zoe.” She grabbed Zoe’s arm and dragged her away before anyone could say anything.
“Did you invite him?” Zoe asked.
“No. I have no idea how he found out. I didn’t tell my parents that we broke up. So many things have happened. But don’t leave me alone with him.”
“I won’t.”
They drove to the cemetery where the grave was dug. Zoe stood next to Madison. Dante stood on the other side with Madison’s parents. They watched the coffin being lowered, and they threw some dirt into the open grave. Madison tossed some flowers in.
She looked up to see men in black carrying guns and running towards them. They were coming up behind Dante
“SWAT. Hands up. Put your hands where I can see them.”
Dante turned. “What the fuck?”
Madison was confused. Why was the SWAT team at her brother’s funeral? It had to be a mistake.
“Dante Giovanni Bianchi, you’re under arrest for money laundering, tax evasion, and racketeering.”
“What? I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Tell it to the courts.”
“Dante?”
“Go home with Zoe. I’ll be out soon.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” said a member of the SWAT team who dragged Dante out.
“Madison, I—”
And then he was being dragged away.
But everyone didn’t leave. A female agent walked over to Madison. “Ms. Bryant, I need you to come with me.”
“What? Why?” Madison looked around at her parents and Zoe. They were all standing there frozen as if their minds couldn’t process what was happening
