Chapter 5 - The Reunion
Owen’s face drained of all color.
He stumbled backward, knocking over a tray of champagne glasses.
The loud crash drew the attention of half the ballroom.
Evelyn didn't run.
She simply turned and walked gracefully toward the side exit, the vault key secured tightly in her clutch.
“Stop her!” Owen screamed, pointing wildly.
“It’s Evelyn Hart!”
The music stopped completely.
Silence descended over the massive ballroom.
Evelyn reached the heavy oak doors, but they were suddenly blocked by two massive security guards.
She turned around, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm.
Standing in the center of the room, parting the crowd like the Red Sea, was Dominic Moretti.
He looked exactly the same.
Tall, terrifying, and impeccably dressed.
But his eyes were wide with a shock that was incredibly rare for him.
He stared at the woman he had buried three months ago.
He stared at the blood-red dress, and then, his eyes slowly drifted down to the unmistakable curve of her stomach.
Evelyn saw the exact moment the realization hit him.
He was going to be a father.
“Evelyn?” Dominic whispered, the word echoing loudly in the quiet room.
Vanessa stepped out from behind him, her face twisted in absolute horror.
“She’s alive?” Vanessa gasped.
Evelyn didn't wait for a family reunion.
She pulled a small, military-grade flashbang grenade from her clutch.
She had learned a few new tricks from Caleb over the last ninety days.
“Goodbye, Dominic,” she said coldly.
She dropped the grenade onto the marble floor and covered her eyes.
A blinding flash of light and a deafening crack paralyzed the entire room.
Screams erupted as the elite guests dropped to the floor, temporarily blinded.
Evelyn slipped past the disoriented guards and burst out into the alleyway.
Caleb’s armored SUV was idling perfectly at the curb.
She dove into the backseat just as Dominic burst through the doors behind her, gun drawn.
“Drive!” she yelled.
Caleb floored the accelerator, tearing down the dark New York streets.
Evelyn slumped against the leather seat, gasping for air.
She opened her hand and stared at the silver vault key.
“We got it,” she said, her voice shaking with adrenaline.
Caleb checked the rearview mirror.
“Yeah, but now they know you’re alive.”
“And Dominic knows about the baby.”
Evelyn looked out the window, watching the city lights blur past.
“It doesn't matter.”
“Tomorrow, we go to Geneva.”
“Once we have the ledger, we destroy them all.”
But as the SUV sped toward the private airfield, a black sedan pulled out of a side street and began tailing them closely.
It wasn't Dominic’s men.
It wasn't her father's security.
The sedan accelerated, violently ramming the back of their SUV.
Caleb swore, struggling to maintain control of the heavy vehicle.
“Who is that?” Evelyn panicked.
Caleb checked his scanners.
“It’s an untraceable mercenary squad.”
“Someone else knew we were going to be at the gala tonight.”
The sedan rammed them again, forcing the SUV toward the concrete barrier of the bridge.
“Hold on!” Caleb yelled.
May you like
The impact was devastating.
The SUV flipped violently, rolling twice before crashing upside down against the guardrail.
