CHAPTER 11 — MRS. BELL’S CONFESSION
Mrs. Bell dropped the grocery bag and locked the door.
“I did not betray you.”
“Then how did they find us?” Tomas demanded.
“Dr. Hale’s medical order was traced.”
The doctor went pale.
“I used an emergency pharmacy account.”
“And Carlo owns the company that processes it,” Mrs. Bell said.
Matteo checked the windows.
“How many men?”
“Eight that I saw. Possibly more.”
Liana carried Nico toward the cellar.
Mrs. Bell caught her arm.
“There is a boat beneath the eastern cliff. Your husband’s mother kept it supplied.”
“He is not my husband.”
Mrs. Bell glanced at Matteo.
“Not yet.”
Even in danger, Liana felt heat rise to her face.
Matteo pretended not to hear.
They moved quickly.
Tomas and Matteo barricaded the doors while Dr. Hale carried Elena’s ledger beneath his coat.
Mrs. Bell led Liana down a narrow stone passage under the cellar.
Before following, Matteo turned to the old housekeeper.
“Why are you helping us?”
Mrs. Bell’s expression filled with grief.
“Because Elena asked me to.”
Matteo stopped.
“She knew Carlo was watching her,” Mrs. Bell continued. “She gave me copies of several documents. I hid them in the chapel.”
“You knew she was in danger?”
“I begged her to leave.”
“And you told no one?”
“She did not trust anyone.”
“Not even me?”
“Especially not you.”
The words wounded him.
Mrs. Bell touched his arm.
“She loved you, Matteo. But she knew you were still choosing the empire every time it demanded proof of loyalty.”
A vehicle stopped outside.
Doors opened.
Tomas raised his weapon.
“We have to move.”
Matteo followed Liana into the tunnel.
Halfway to the cliff, an explosion shook the passage.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Nico began crying.
Matteo took him while Liana climbed ahead.
They emerged near the rocks below the house. Waves crashed against the narrow shore.
A small motorboat waited beneath a canvas cover.
Dr. Hale started the engine.
Gunfire struck the rocks.
Tomas returned fire from the tunnel entrance.
“Go!” he shouted.
Matteo pushed Mrs. Bell into the boat.
“You first,” he told Liana.
She climbed aboard.
Matteo handed her Nico.
Another shot echoed.
Tomas collapsed.
Matteo ran back.
“No!” Liana screamed.
He reached Tomas and dragged him toward the boat as bullets struck the water.
Together, Matteo and Dr. Hale pulled the wounded guard aboard.
The boat sped away from the shore.
Behind them, the seaside house burned.
Tomas pressed a hand against his bleeding side.
Matteo held him upright.
“Stay with me.”
Tomas forced a weak smile.
“Your orders?”
“My order is that you live.”
Tomas looked toward Liana and Nico.
“Then stop building houses people have to escape from.”
Matteo bowed his head.
In that moment, the last illusion of his old life died.
He no longer wanted his throne back.
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He wanted Carlo’s empire to end.
Even if ending it destroyed him too.
