Chapter 7 - The Caldwell Alliance
Vanessa stepped into the master bedroom with a cold, triumphant smile.
She had completely abandoned her elegant white silk gown for a dark, tailored business suit.
She pointed the silver revolver directly at Claire’s chest.
“Did you honestly think Vincent could protect a pathetic maid forever?” Vanessa sneered.
Claire slowly backed away across the massive bed, her mind frantically searching for a weapon.
“He will kill you if you pull that trigger,” Claire said, trying to keep her voice perfectly steady.
“He won't have a choice but to forgive me,” Vanessa laughed harshly.
“My father just choked out his entire supply chain in less than an hour.”
Vanessa paced confidently toward the edge of the mattress.
“Vincent needs the Caldwell ports to survive, and he needs me to keep the alliance alive.”
Claire stood up, refusing to cower before the cruel woman.
“Then why are you here holding a gun on me?”
Vanessa’s smile faltered, her dark eyes flashing with deeply rooted insecurity.
“Because he actually looked at you last night.”
Vanessa raised the heavy gun, her finger tightening dangerously on the trigger.
“He never looks at me like that.”
Suddenly, a heavy bronze statue crashed violently into the back of Vanessa’s head.
The socialite collapsed instantly onto the plush carpet, completely unconscious.
Lucia Moretti stood behind her, breathing heavily and holding a second, identical statue.
“I always absolutely hated that woman,” Lucia muttered, dropping the heavy weapon.
Claire stared at the younger woman in absolute disbelief.
“You saved my life,” Claire whispered.
“We are finally even,” Lucia replied coldly, refusing to make eye contact.
Lucia quickly grabbed Claire by the arm and pulled her forcefully toward the hidden adjoining door.
“We have to leave the estate right now, Claire.”
“Vincent told me to stay in this room,” Claire protested, pulling back.
Lucia’s grip tightened painfully on her wrist.
“Vincent just walked into a meeting with Vanessa’s father to negotiate a total surrender.”
Claire froze.
“He is going to agree to marry her to save his empire,” Lucia explained frantically.
“And the first absolute condition of their marriage will be handing you over to the Caldwells.”
Claire felt her entire world shatter into a million painful pieces.
Vincent had promised to protect her just hours ago.
But in the brutal mafia world, money and power always eclipsed a simple life debt.
“Where are we going?” Claire asked, fighting back hot tears.
“I have a secure safehouse in the city, but we have to leave before Vincent finalizes the deal.”
They quickly slipped down the back servant staircase, entirely avoiding the main security cameras.
Lucia led her into the underground parking garage and unlocked a dark, unmarked sedan.
Claire climbed into the passenger seat, taking one last, heartbreaking look at the massive estate.
She had actually allowed herself to believe Vincent Moretti cared about her.
Lucia sped aggressively out of the garage, blending seamlessly into the morning traffic.
They drove in complete, suffocating silence for thirty long minutes.
Lucia finally parked the car in a desolate, abandoned alleyway behind a ruined warehouse.
“This is not a safehouse,” Claire noted, feeling a sudden wave of fresh terror.
Lucia turned off the engine and slowly pulled her gun from her shoulder holster.
She did not point it out the window.
May you like
She pointed it directly at Claire’s head.
“I am sorry, Claire, but I really cannot let you ruin my family’s empire.”
