Chapter 3 - The Basement
The massive crystal chandelier shattered into a million sharp pieces, knocking Fiona to the floor.
I did not wait to see if she was unconscious.
I turned and sprinted down the hallway as fast as my pregnant body would allow.
My breath came in ragged gasps, and my daughter kicked furiously against my ribs.
I needed to find Julian and get out of this death trap.
I reached the grand staircase, looking down at the chaotic sea of panicked guests in the foyer.
Suddenly, a strong hand clamped tightly over my mouth from behind.
I thrashed wildly, throwing my elbows backward with all my strength.
"Stop fighting, it's me!" Matthias hissed quietly in my ear.
He spun me around, his eyes wide with absolute terror.
"We have to hide before they find us," my husband pleaded, dragging me toward the kitchen corridor.
"Fiona has a gun," I choked out, stumbling in my high heels.
"I know," Matthias said, pushing me through the swinging doors of the catering kitchen.
"She works for my father's rivals, and they are here to slaughter everyone."
He led me to the heavy steel door of the underground wine cellar.
He punched a code into the keypad, and the door clicked open.
"Go down the stairs and lock the deadbolt from the inside," he ordered, pushing me into the dark stairwell.
"What about you?" I asked, gripping the cold iron railing.
"I am going to find the security override and get the police here," he promised.
He slammed the door shut, plunging me into complete and total darkness.
I immediately reached for the deadbolt to secure the door as he had instructed.
But there was no deadbolt on the inside of the door.
I pushed against the heavy steel, but it refused to budge even an inch.
I heard the distinct, heavy sound of the exterior lock sliding into place.
Matthias hadn't hidden me to protect me.
He had intentionally locked me inside the soundproof basement.
I pulled out my phone to call Julian, praying I had a signal underground.
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The screen illuminated the dark stairwell, revealing a horrifying sight on the concrete floor below.
Julian was lying at the bottom of the stairs, staring blankly at the ceiling with a massive pool of blood spreading around his head.
