Chapter 11 - The Attic Secret
Grace stared at the glowing screen of the encrypted phone, her entire body freezing in absolute terror.
The dark wooden chest she was cleaning out did not belong to her, and it certainly did not belong to Julian.
It was a storage trunk that Carlo had brought into the attic when he helped us move into the new estate six months ago.
The chilling text message was not meant for Grace; it was a direct order given to the man I trusted most in this world.
"Julian trusts you completely now; proceed to phase two of the assassination."
Grace’s hands trembled so violently she nearly dropped the device onto the dusty floorboards.
For years, Carlo had been my right-hand man, the loyal enforcer who bled for me and seemingly saved my family from the Volkov cartel.
But the horrifying truth was staring Grace right in the face.
Carlo had not been protecting my empire; he had been systematically dismantling my enemies so he could take the entire throne for himself.
Grace shoved the phone into the pocket of her jeans and sprinted toward the attic stairs.
Her bare feet slapped quietly against the hardwood steps as she desperately raced down to the main floor.
I was currently sitting in my private mahogany study, completely unaware of the impending danger.
Carlo was standing right across the desk from me, smiling warmly as he poured two glasses of expensive scotch to celebrate our recent real estate acquisition.
Grace burst through the heavy study doors, her face pale and covered in a thin layer of cold sweat.
I looked up, surprised by her sudden intrusion and the sheer panic radiating from her eyes.
Before I could ask what was wrong, Grace pulled the small silver handgun she always kept strapped to her ankle.
Without a single moment of hesitation, she aimed the weapon directly at the glass of scotch in my hand and pulled the trigger.
The bullet shattered the crystal glass instantly, sending amber liquid and sharp shards flying across my desk.
"Do not drink that, Julian!" Grace screamed, keeping her weapon leveled directly at Carlo's chest.
I jumped to my feet, my mind struggling to process the sudden chaos in my sanctuary.
Carlo did not flinch, nor did he look surprised by the sudden gunfire.
Instead, a dark, sinister smile slowly spread across his face as he looked at Grace.
"You always were entirely too clever for your own good, Grace," Carlo whispered, his voice dripping with venom.
May you like
He casually reached into his tailored jacket, pulling out a suppressed pistol of his own.
The loyal friend I had known for a decade was gone, replaced by a cold-blooded assassin ready to finish his master plan.
