Chapter 8: Blood on the Marble
Marcus was on the floor.
Blood spread across his white shirt.
“Marcus!””
Dante dropped beside him.
“Where are you hit?””
Marcus pressed a hand against his shoulder.
“Shoulder.””
Dante looked around.
The corridor was empty.
Victoria stood frozen against the wall.
Elena was crouched behind the doorway.
Dante shouted, “Lock the door!””
Victoria slammed it shut.
Dante tore a strip from Marcus's shirt and pressed it against the wound.
“You're going to be fine.””
Marcus grimaced.
“That's what people say before they die.””
“Not tonight.””
Elena approached carefully.
“I have a first-aid kit.””
Dante looked at her.
“Get it.””
She ran.
Victoria remained motionless.
Dante looked at her.
“Did you see him?””
“No.””
“Anything?””
“A shadow.””
“Which direction?””
She pointed toward the archive.
“He came from there.””
Dante's eyes narrowed.
“The ledger.””
“I didn't take it.””
“I didn't say you did.””
Victoria swallowed.
“You were thinking it.””
Dante stood.
“Then don't give me a reason.””
Marcus grabbed his wrist.
“Dante.””
“What?””
“The signature.””
Dante looked down.
“What about it?””
Marcus's breathing was strained.
“You didn't finish reading it.””
“I saw enough.””
“No.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You saw your name.””
Dante stared.
“But you didn't see the second line.””
“What second line?””
Marcus looked at Victoria.
She lowered her eyes.
“It said the payment was canceled.””
Dante froze.
Marcus continued.
“Someone stopped the order.””
“Who?””
Marcus swallowed.
“Me.””
Dante stared at him.
“You?””
“I found out Dad had ordered someone to kill you.””
“Why?””
“Because he thought you were working with Claudia.””
Dante's expression changed.
“You let me believe you betrayed me.””
“I had to.””
“Why?””
“Because if they knew I protected you, they'd kill you both.””
Elena returned with the first-aid kit.
She knelt beside Marcus.
“Hold still.””
Marcus gave her a faint smile.
“You're brave.””
Elena shook her head.
“No. I'm tired.””
Marcus laughed softly.
“Sometimes that's the same thing.””
Dante looked toward the monitor.
Claudia was gone.
But another message appeared.
*BRING VICTORIA TO THE BALLROOM.*
Dante stared at it.
“No.””
Victoria looked at him.
“What?””
“They want you.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
“You're not going.””
“They'll kill Caleb.””
Dante looked at her.
“They may kill him anyway.””
Victoria's face crumpled.
“I can't let that happen.””
Dante picked up his gun.
“Then we're going together.””
Marcus tried to stand.
Dante pushed him back down.
“You stay.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Absolutely not.””
“You've been shot.””
“I've survived worse.””
“You don't know where we're going.””
Marcus looked at him.
“I know exactly where we're going.””
Dante paused.
“Where?””
“The ballroom.””
They climbed the stairs.
The mansion above was silent.
Too silent.
The rain hammered against the windows.
Dante entered the ballroom first.
The engagement decorations were still there.
The champagne tower.
The white flowers.
The broken glasses.
Victoria's burgundy gown reflected beneath the chandeliers.
It looked almost exactly as it had hours earlier.
Except now the room was empty.
No guests.
No music.
No security.
Only silence.
Dante whispered, “Trap.””
Marcus nodded.
“Obviously.””
A single spotlight switched on.
Claudia stood beneath it.
She held the ledger.
Dante raised his gun.
“Put it down.””
Claudia smiled.
“You always were impatient.””
“Where's Caleb?””
“Alive.””
“Prove it.””
She snapped her fingers.
A screen descended from the ceiling.
Caleb appeared.
His face was bruised.
But he was conscious.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Caleb!””
His son's eyes widened.
“Dad!””
Claudia turned toward Victoria.
“You have one minute.””
Victoria stared at Dante.
“What do you want me to do?””
“Walk to me.””
Dante immediately said, “Don't.””
Claudia smiled.
“Then Caleb dies.””
Victoria took one step.
Dante grabbed her arm.
“No.””
Victoria whispered, “Dante, please.””
“She's using you.””
“I know.””
“Then don't go.””
“I can't watch him die.””
Dante looked at the screen.
Caleb shook his head frantically.
“Victoria, don't.””
She looked at him.
“I’m sorry.””
She pulled away from Dante.
Marcus raised his gun.
Claudia's guards appeared from the shadows.
Dante lowered his weapon.
Victoria walked forward.
Claudia handed her the ledger.
“Good.””
Victoria took it.
Then Claudia whispered something in her ear.
Victoria's expression changed.
Dante noticed.
“What did she say?””
Victoria turned.
Her eyes met his.
And she smiled.
Not the frightened smile she'd worn all night.
A calm one.
Confident.
Dante's stomach dropped.
Victoria held the ledger against her chest.
“I'm sorry, Dante.””
Then she threw it into the champagne tower.
The ledger landed in the liquid.
Pages soaked instantly.
Dante stared.
“What did you do?””
Victoria looked at Claudia.
“Now release Caleb.””
Claudia smiled.
“You really thought I'd keep my promise?””
Victoria's face went pale.
Claudia nodded toward the screen.
Caleb disappeared.
Victoria screamed.
“No!””
The screen went black.
Dante rushed toward her.
“Victoria!””
She turned toward him.
Tears filled her eyes.
“I had no choice.””
Dante stopped.
“You always have a choice.””
A gunshot cracked.
Claudia dropped the ledger.
The ballroom doors burst open.
Black-suited men stormed inside.
Dante grabbed Victoria and pulled her behind a marble pillar.
Marcus returned fire.
Elena crawled beneath the engagement table.
Glass shattered.
Flowers toppled.
The ballroom became chaos.
Then Dante heard a familiar voice behind him.
“Uncle Dante!””
He turned.
Caleb stood in the doorway.
Alive.
Untied.
Holding a gun.
May you like
And behind him stood the man Dante had just seen shot eight years ago.
His father.
