Chapter 8 - The Bait
Clare threw the photographs onto the coffee table.
"Explain this," she demanded, her voice shaking with anger.
Dominic looked at the pictures, his expression hardening.
"Your husband did not just abandon you, Clare."
"His name was Marcus, and he was a low-level courier for my brother Gabriel."
Clare stumbled backward as if she had been physically struck.
"Marcus told me he was a traveling salesman."
Dominic let out a bitter, exhausted laugh.
"Marcus stole three million dollars from Gabriel's private accounts before Gabriel supposedly died."
"My security team vetted you because we thought you knew where the money was."
Clare shook her head in absolute disbelief.
"I knew nothing."
"We lived in poverty."
"I know," Dominic said softly.
"When I realized you were innocent, I hired you at the estate to keep you safe."
"I knew that whoever really killed Gabriel would eventually come looking for the missing money."
"You used us as bait," Clare whispered, tears spilling over her cheeks.
"I used you to find my brother's killer," Dominic corrected.
Before Clare could scream at him, the electronic perimeter alarm began to wail.
Red emergency lights flashed throughout the dark farmhouse.
Dominic instantly grabbed a loaded shotgun from the table and forced himself to stand.
He pushed Clare and Ellie behind the heavy stone fireplace.
"Arthur's men found us," Dominic gritted his teeth.
He aimed the weapon at the heavy oak front door, waiting for the breach.
The alarm suddenly shut off.
Complete silence fell over the woods.
A single, rhythmic knock echoed from the front door.
Dominic did not lower his weapon.
"Who is there?" he roared.
The heavy wooden door slowly creaked open, letting the cold rain blow inside.
A tall figure wearing a dark trench coat stepped into the firelight.
May you like
He lowered his wet hood, revealing a face completely scarred by fire.
"Hello, brother," Gabriel Vale said.
