Sample Chapter

Vinci, the groom, strode into the church, his best man in tow. Displaying smug self-assurance, he made his way directly to the priest, allowing Gina to see a suggestion of confrontation develop between them; she tried to camouflage the filming by redirecting the camera away. 

Vinci stood close to the priest, his voice barely above a whisper. “Your disinterest won’t protect you from the truth, Piero. A little honesty wouldn’t hurt.”

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The priest replied, “Honesty can shatter lives, my son. You, of all people, should understand the weight of secrets.”

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Fr. Piero Xavier was sent to this chapel only a few years ago. He was a dedicated member of the local community who learned to respect his fatherly style. Little did the town know of his past as a confidant to the mafia families.

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Gina only heard fragments of the conversation. She picked up on the word. Secrets? What were they hiding? 

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The best man joined the exchange with Vinci and the priest: “We can’t ignore the past any longer, Father. It’s time to accept reality. It’s not all black and white.”

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The priest responded in a hushed, forceful tone. “Life rarely is, my son. Many shades of grey define us.”

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Gina’s mind raced. “What is their history? Why so much drama? It’s supposed to be a happy day.”

Vinci’s tone was confrontational, “You speak of gray areas as if they excuse us from blame. We each are responsible for our own decisions.”

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“Decisions carry repercussions,” Fr. Piero replied. “Your decisions impact beyond what you can perceive, my son.”

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Gina sensed they had history. “What have they done? Who will it affect?”

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The best man glanced at Vinci, showing his annoyance. “You’ve always prided yourself on being above reproach. Don’t pretend this is a separate incident.”

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Vinci shot back, “Separation is a myth. We’re all in this together; Piero knows this well.”

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“Enough of this philosophical rubbish,” Fr. Piero shot, showing his patience was wearing thin. “Focus on today, not yesterday’s ghosts.”

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The best man added, smirking, “Ghosts can haunt longer than you expect. How well will you sleep tonight, Piero?”

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Gina caught hints of vulnerability surfacing beneath bravado. “Why’s the priest so shaken?”

The tension shifted as the best man brought some rationality to the scene: “Gentlemen, let’s save the angst for later. Today’s about celebration, remember?”

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Gina recognized a fragile peace forming, even though the questions lingered. Her camera remained fixed, recording the wedding decorations lining the chapel pews. Leonardo’s constant reminders to shoot ample background footage for the final production echoed in her mind. She knew she had to film swiftly; the tripod and lighting setup still needed to be completed.

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Fr. Piero and Vinci had separated for a moment. Gina continued to film the background footage. Beyond her sight, Vinci and the priest were engaged in a heated discussion behind the front altar and directly below the main high altar, unaware of the impending devastation.