Chapter 4 - THE FIRST SHOT
The first bullet struck the marble column beside Dominic’s head.
Daniel threw him behind a stone table.
Marcus drew his weapon and fired toward the balcony.
Guests screamed from the upper floor.
Glass shattered.
Emergency lights flickered red across the hall.
Nathan disappeared into the darkness.
Claire dropped behind the staircase.
Dominic fired twice toward the muzzle flash above.
A body crashed over the balcony rail and struck the floor.
The dead man wore a security uniform.
Dominic recognized him.
Elias Ward had worked for the estate for nine years.
Nathan had recommended him.
“Seal the exits,” Dominic shouted.
Marcus spoke into his radio.
Nobody answered.
The estate’s internal system had been disabled.
Daniel pointed toward the western corridor.
“Upstairs.”
Dominic understood immediately.
The shooting was a distraction.
Mia and Harper were upstairs.
He ran.
Daniel followed.
They reached the secure guest room and found the outer guard unconscious.
The door stood open.
Doctor Russo lay on the carpet with blood running from a wound near his temple.
Harper crouched beneath a table.
Mia had pulled herself from the bed and was holding a broken lamp like a weapon.
Claire stood near the window.
A syringe lay at her feet.
Everyone froze when Dominic entered.
Claire lifted her hands.
“This is not what it looks like.”
Mia gave a broken laugh.
“She was trying to inject me again.”
Claire shook her head.
“The doctor dropped the syringe when the shooting started.”
Doctor Russo groaned from the floor.
Dominic looked at Harper.
“What happened?”
The child pointed at Claire.
“She hit the doctor.”
Claire’s face hardened for one second.
Then the frightened fiancée returned.
“She is confused.”
Harper moved toward Mia.
“You always say that when I tell the truth.”
The words landed heavily.
Claire looked at Dominic.
“You are going to believe a four-year-old?”
“Yes,” he said.
That answer ended something between them.
Claire ran toward the balcony doors.
Daniel caught her before she reached them.
She fought violently.
Her nails cut his cheek.
He forced her hands behind her back.
“Where is Nathan?” Dominic asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Where is he going?”
“I don’t know.”
Dominic picked up the syringe.
“What is inside this?”
Claire remained silent.
Doctor Russo pushed himself onto one elbow.
“It is potassium chloride.”
Dominic looked at him.
The doctor wiped blood from his forehead.
“A large dose would stop Mia’s heart.”
“It could look like a complication from dehydration.”
Mia stared at Claire.
“You were going to kill me in front of my daughter.”
Claire stopped struggling.
Her eyes became empty.
“No.”
She looked at Harper.
“I was going to wait until she left the room.”
Daniel tightened his grip.
Dominic stepped forward.
“Where is Nathan?”
Claire smiled.
“If he is not already gone, then you are all dead.”
An explosion shook the western side of the estate.
The windows burst inward.
Smoke rolled across the ceiling.
Downstairs, an alarm began screaming.
Marcus’s voice finally came through the radio.
“The garage is burning.”
“Nathan took one of the SUVs.”
Dominic looked at Claire.
She had been the woman he intended to marry in six weeks.
Now she watched his house burn with calm satisfaction.
May you like
“He did not run,” Claire said.
“He went to finish what Elena started.”
