Chapter 6 - The Betrayal at Midnight
Claire spent the next hour trying to call Charles.
He didn't answer.
Dominic told her not to.
She ignored him.
Finally, Charles sent an address.
An old church outside Baltimore.
Midnight.
Come alone.
Claire showed Dominic the message.
“No.”
“I have to go.”
“No.”
“He knows something about my mother.”
“And he's using that to control you.”
Claire looked at him.
“What if it's true?”
Dominic sighed.
“Then we go together.”
They arrived eleven minutes before midnight.
The church was empty.
Claire walked through the front doors.
Dominic stayed several steps behind.
Charles stood near the altar.
He looked older than he had at dinner.
Tired.
Frightened.
“Claire.”
She stopped.
“What did Mom leave me?”
Charles looked toward Dominic.
“You shouldn't have brought him.”
Claire's voice was cold.
“You shouldn't have stolen from me.”
Charles flinched.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
He looked at her.
“Your mother knew I was going to lose everything.”
“You already told me she died in debt.”
“She didn't.”
Claire waited.
Charles lowered his voice.
“She discovered Victor was stealing from the company.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“How much?”
Charles looked at him.
“Enough to destroy us.”
Claire stared at her father.
“And you helped him?”
“No.”
“You transferred Mother's shares.”
“To protect you.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“You protected me by stealing my inheritance?”
Charles's face twisted.
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
Charles looked at the church doors.
Then whispered:
“Victor wasn't working alone.”
A sound came from outside.
A car.
Then another.
Dominic immediately moved toward Claire.
“Get down.”
The church windows shattered.
Dominic pulled Claire behind a stone pillar.
Men rushed through the side entrance.
Gunfire echoed through the church.
Claire covered her ears.
Dominic's security team returned fire.
Charles crawled behind the altar.
The shooting lasted less than a minute.
Then silence.
Dominic looked at Claire.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He helped her stand.
Charles was gone.
Claire stared toward the altar.
“He left.”
Dominic nodded.
“He planned this.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at the church floor.
There was blood.
But none of it belonged to Charles.
Dominic followed her gaze.
A piece of paper lay near the altar.
Claire picked it up.
It contained one sentence.
YOUR MOTHER DIDN'T DIE BY ACCIDENT.
Claire stopped breathing.
Dominic took the paper.
Then a second line appeared beneath it.
SHE WAS SILENCED.
Claire looked at him.
“Who killed her?”
Dominic didn't answer.
Because footsteps were coming from the church basement.
Slow.
Heavy.
Someone was climbing the stairs.
Dominic drew his weapon.
“Stay behind me.”
The basement door opened.
A man stepped into the church.
Victor Hale.
Older.
Scarred.
Smiling.
He looked directly at Claire.
“You have your mother's eyes.”
Claire couldn't move.
May you like
Victor raised one hand.
And behind him, someone whispered Dominic's name...
