Chapter 5 - The Arrest in the HallCameron and Patricia tried to push through the side doors near the catering kitchen, but Everett and Uncle Jonathan had already alerted the deputies guarding the perimeter.
Detective Cole walked up the central aisle, holding an official felony arrest warrant.
"Cameron Moretti!" Detective Cole’s voice boomed across the silent room.
Cameron thrashed his head back, his face contorted in an ugly, panic-stricken mask of rage as he looked at the uniformed officers surrounding him. "THIS IS UNFAIR! THIS IS A PRIVATE FAMILY DISAGREEMENT! MY MOTHER OWNS APEX HERITAGE!"
"Patricia Moretti is currently being detained in the foyer for corporate conspiracy and wire fraud, Mr. Moretti," Detective Cole announced deadpan. "And you are under arrest for Aggravated Domestic Assault, Forgery of a Legal Instrument, and Grand Larceny."
CLICK. CLICK.
The heavy steel handcuffs locked tightly around Cameron’s wrists behind his dark tuxedo coat.
"ARGH! HALLIE! PLEASE!" Cameron wept frantically, his smooth voice cracking into pathetic, groveling squeaks as he was forced down onto his knees right in the middle of the white aisle carpet. "FORGIVE ME! I WAS CRAZY! MY MOTHER MADE ME DO IT! SHE TOLD ME YOUR FATHER WOULD NEVER NOTICE!"
I walked down the altar steps, stopping three feet from where he lay groveling on the carpet floorboards.
I looked down at the man I had almost married with quiet, weightless indifference.
"You told me I needed to learn to respect your mother, Cameron," I whispered softly, every word dropped like a slab of cold iron. "Now... you can learn how to respect the law."
The deputies hoisted Cameron up by his lapels, dragging him out through the central aisle in total, public disgrace, surrounded by news cameras and the shocked stares of eighty high-society guests who immediately pulled out their phones to document his total downfall.
Patricia was led out right behind him, her champagne gown ruined, her makeup smeared with tears, sobbing hysterically as federal asset receivers arrived to seal her vehicle and company accounts.
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My mother and father walked down the aisle, stepping into the front row, taking their rightful seats under the warm afternoon light filtering through the stained-glass windows.
My father looked up at me, his eyes shining with an absolute, unbroken pride.
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