Chapter 6 - THE MAN AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS
Clara wanted to leave through the garden, but every exit had been sealed.
Marcus explained that the palace lockdown system could only be canceled from Alessandro’s private control room.
They had no choice but to return to the ballroom.
Marcus concealed the projection device inside his jacket. Clara repaired the rabbit’s torn ear as best she could, then placed it in Emma’s arms.
“Do not give Blue to anyone,” she whispered.
Emma nodded.
When they reached the ballroom, nearly two hundred guests had gathered beneath the chandeliers.
Vivian stood near the center of the room, speaking to Alessandro.
She turned as Clara entered.
Their eyes met.
Vivian smiled.
It was the smile of someone who had already decided how another person would die.
Clara tried to remain near the wall, but a supervisor immediately ordered her back to work. She lifted a serving tray with shaking hands.
Minutes later, Vivian deliberately stepped into her path.
The tray tilted.
A few drops of champagne splashed onto Vivian’s silver gown.
The rest happened quickly.
The accusation.
The slap.
Emma running from the nursery after apparently escaping Rosa’s supervision.
Vivian raising her hand again.
Then Alessandro’s voice.
“Enough.”
Now, as Alessandro held the blue rabbit and exposed the black symbol hidden inside its torn ear, Clara understood that the confrontation had never been an accident.
Vivian had wanted the toy revealed.
She wanted Alessandro to see it.
But she had not expected Clara to tell him that Gabriel was Emma’s father.
Alessandro faced Vivian.
“So,” he said, “you knew.”
Vivian recovered quickly.
“Knew what?”
“That Adrian had a child.”
The guests began whispering.
Clara stared at Alessandro.
He said the name with certainty.
Adrian.
Vivian shook her head.
“This woman could be lying.”
Alessandro turned toward Clara.
“What was your husband’s full name?”
“Gabriel Elias Bennett.”
“Date of birth?”
“October eighteenth.”
Alessandro’s expression tightened.
That was Adrian’s birthday.
“Did he have a scar beneath his left shoulder?”
Clara’s voice weakened.
“Yes.”
“Shaped like a crescent?”
“Yes.”
Alessandro closed his eyes.
When he opened them, he looked at Emma.
The severity left his face.
For the first time, he appeared old.
“What is her name?”
“Emma.”
Alessandro crouched until he was level with the child.
Emma pressed herself against Clara.
He held out the rabbit.
“Emma, I believe this belongs to you.”
She took it cautiously.
“Are you a bad man?”
A few guests gasped.
Alessandro did not appear offended.
“I have been.”
“Did you hurt my daddy?”
Clara’s heart stopped.
Alessandro looked toward Vivian.
“No,” he said. “But I failed to protect him from someone who did.”
Vivian stepped backward.
Alessandro rose.
“Seal the estate. Search every vehicle. No one leaves until I know who activated the vault.”
The chandeliers suddenly went dark.
A gunshot exploded from the balcony.
Marcus threw Clara and Emma to the floor.
A bullet struck the marble where Alessandro had been standing.
The emergency lights illuminated the upper gallery.
A masked shooter fled through a side door.
The guards pursued him.
Vivian screamed with the other guests, pretending to be terrified.
But Clara saw the small black device in her hand.
May you like
Vivian pressed a button.
Beneath the palace, an iron door began to open.
