Chapter 2 — The Funeral of the Living King

Friday morning.

Hundreds gathered inside St. Michael's Cathedral.

Politicians.

Judges.

Business leaders.

Television cameras.

Every powerful person who had ever benefited from Dominic Moretti's influence arrived wearing black.

Veronica sat in the front row.

Perfect black veil.

Perfect tears.

Perfect performance.

Anthony greeted mourners like a grieving heir.

The closed mahogany casket rested beneath white roses.

Inside...

Nothing.

It was empty.

Outside the cathedral, Paul's men quietly blocked every exit.

No guest noticed.

The priest began the final prayer.

"We now commend Dominic Moretti—"

The enormous wooden doors suddenly opened.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the cathedral.

Every head turned.

Veronica's face lost all color.

Dominic Moretti walked inside.

Bruised.

Walking with a cane.

Very much alive.

The silence was absolute.

Anthony stumbled backward.

"Impossible..."

Dominic stopped beside his own coffin.

"I've always wondered who would come to my funeral."

He looked slowly across the room.

"Now I know."

A massive screen descended behind the altar.

Paul pressed a button.

The recordings began to play.

Veronica's voice echoed through the cathedral.

"Die before Friday, Dominic."

"The money clears faster once you're officially dead."

Gasps spread through the crowd.

Then Anthony's voice.

"The brake lines are done."

Veronica smiled in the recording.

"No witnesses?"

"Only Nico."

"He'll die too."

The cathedral exploded with horror.

The senator quietly tried to leave.

Federal agents entered through every doorway.

"So did the police," Dominic said.

"They've been waiting outside for forty-three minutes."

Anthony lunged toward Dominic.

Paul intercepted him before he managed a second step.

Veronica collapsed to her knees.

"It wasn't supposed to happen like this."

Dominic looked down at the woman he once planned to marry.

"No."

"It wasn't."

Officers placed both of them in handcuffs as cameras captured every second.

For the first time in decades...

The untouchable predators had become the hunted.