Chapter 10 - THE MAID RETURNS
The wedding began beneath crystal chandeliers and white roses.
Politicians, billionaires, judges, and men with concealed weapons filled the ballroom.
Dominic stood at the altar in a black tuxedo.
He looked calm.
Only Vincent noticed that his right hand remained close to the gun beneath his jacket.
Vivienne walked down the aisle wearing a cathedral-length veil.
Layla moved among the servers carrying champagne.
The stained diner apron was gone.
Her pregnancy remained hidden beneath a specially altered uniform and loose coat.
She searched the mansion one locked hallway at a time.
Julian had to be somewhere inside.
In the lower level, she found two armed guards outside a wine cellar.
Layla dropped a tray near the staircase.
When one guard turned, Vincent’s men disabled him.
The second guard reached for his weapon.
Layla struck the emergency alarm.
Sprinklers exploded overhead.
Guests screamed as water fell across the ballroom.
Dominic grabbed Vivienne before she could run.
Vincent entered the cellar.
Julian was tied to a chair but unharmed.
The boy looked at him.
“Uncle Dominic said you would come.”
Vincent cut the ropes.
Upstairs, Charles Cross shouted for security to seal every exit.
Federal agents revealed themselves.
Several guests dropped to the floor.
Others reached for guns.
The ballroom erupted into chaos.
Vivienne slipped from Dominic’s grip and drew a small blade from beneath her bouquet.
She pressed it against his ribs.
“Smile,” she whispered.
Cameras were still recording.
Dominic raised both hands.
“You lost.”
“No.”
Vivienne looked toward the musicians.
One violinist placed his instrument on the floor.
Beneath it was a black case.
Dominic recognized the trigger device.
Explosives had been planted throughout the estate.
Charles Cross stood near the staircase holding the remote.
“If my family falls,” he said, “everyone here falls with us.”
Layla emerged from the service corridor with Julian.
Charles saw her.
His expression changed.
“The maid.”
She held up the original cassette containing Eleanor’s testimony.
“You wanted this.”
Charles pointed the remote at her.
Dominic moved between them.
“Let the boy and Layla leave.”
Vivienne laughed.
“You still think this is about evidence?”
She removed the syringe from her bouquet.
“The poison was never meant for Dominic.”
May you like
She looked at Layla’s stomach.
“It was meant for the twins.”
