Chapter 16 - The Coward's Choice
Elena stared at the gun.
"You sold us out."
Owen's face crumpled. "Victoria took my daughter."
Behind Elena, Victoria stopped.
"Don't make this dramatic, Owen. Hand me the gun."
Owen didn't move.
"Where is she?" he asked.
Victoria sighed. "Safe, if you behave."
Elena understood before Victoria did.
Owen hadn't pointed the gun at Elena to kill her.
He had pointed it past her.
"Owen," Victoria warned.
His hand shook. "I served this family thirty-one years. I buried what I saw. I lied for Richard. I lied for you. I watched Celeste die and told myself I had no choice."
Victoria's voice hardened. "You were paid for your choices."
"That's what I told myself too."
He fired.
The shot shattered the chandelier above Victoria.
Glass rained down.
Elena flinched as the dining room exploded into the exact image from her hallucination.
For a second she was back on the floor, believing a nightmare.
Then she saw Victoria dive beneath the table.
Real.
Marcus finally broke through the kitchen door and tackled one of the returning guards.
Owen grabbed Elena's arm. "Service stairs. Go!"
"Your daughter-"
"Police have the location. I sent it before I came in."
Elena ran.
Halfway up the hidden stairs, a crushing pain wrapped around her abdomen.
She stopped and doubled over.
Warm liquid ran down her legs.
"No," she whispered.
Another pain came, deeper and rhythmic.
Her water had broken.
Too early.
Marcus reached her moments later, blood on his forehead.
"Elena?"
She looked up at him, terrified. "The baby is coming."
From below, Victoria screamed Owen's name.
A second gunshot thundered through the walls.
Then Owen went silent.
Marcus lifted Elena into his arms.
The house alarm began to howl.
Police lights flashed beyond the shuttered windows, but the front gates remained locked.
Elena gripped Marcus's shirt through another contraction.
"Don't take me downstairs."
"We need to get out."
"No. The old tunnel. Celeste mentioned it on the tape. East staircase to the chapel."
Marcus stared at her.
May you like
Neither of them knew whether the tunnel still existed.
Behind them, Victoria stepped into the passage holding Owen's gun.
