Chapter 10 - The False Victory
Chaos erupted in the bedroom instantly.
Ewan stumbled backward, crashing into the heavy mahogany dresser as the paralytic hit his bloodstream.
The two mercenaries raised their rifles, but the distraction was all the time I needed.
I grabbed my pistol from the bedside table and fired twice.
The deafening shots dropped both guards before they could pull their triggers.
Celeste screamed in absolute terror, turning on her heel and fleeing blindly down the hallway.
I didn't chase her.
I rushed to Delia, pulling her behind the reinforced oak door as the estate's remaining security alarms began to blare.
Ewan collapsed onto the floor, his face turning pale as he gasped desperately for air that his paralyzed lungs could not pull.
"He won't die," Delia said breathlessly, looking down at the monster she had married.
"The dose is only strong enough to incapacitate him for a few hours."
I looked at my mother, who was breathing steadily and watching the scene with calm approval.
We had won the battle.
The traitors were neutralized, the truth was out, and my empire remained firmly in my hands.
I kicked Ewan's dropped weapon away and pulled Delia into a tight, crushing embrace.
"You saved us," I whispered against her hair, feeling a profound wave of relief wash over my exhausted body.
"It's over, Delia."
Sirens began wailing in the distance, growing louder as dozens of police cruisers swarmed the front gates of the estate.
"The police are here," I said, pulling back to look into her beautiful, tear-stained face.
"Don't worry, my lawyers can handle the mess in this room."
Delia smiled softly, reaching her hands around my waist in a gentle, loving gesture.
But as she embraced me, I felt the cold, heavy bite of steel lock tightly around my wrists.
I looked down in utter shock to see a pair of heavy police handcuffs binding my hands together.
Delia took a slow step backward, her loving smile completely vanishing into a mask of pure, terrifying malice.
"Ewan didn't orchestrate the Pier 44 fire, Julian," she whispered, her voice colder than the winter wind.
"I did."
"And the police aren't coming up those stairs to arrest him."
"They are coming to arrest the man who just brutally murdered Celeste Vandermark in the hallway."
I looked out the bedroom door, my blood running entirely cold.
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Lying dead on the carpet, with a bullet hole perfectly centered in her chest, was Celeste.
And lying right next to her outstretched hand was the backup pistol registered in my exact name.
