Chapter 5 - The Setup
The lock on the nursery door began to rattle violently.
Camille was on the other side, her muffled curses seeping through the heavy wood.
I shoved the burner phone deep into the pocket of my sweatpants.
I gently placed Marco back into his crib, making sure he was safely out of the line of fire.
Then, I looked around the room for a weapon.
The door clicked loudly as the master key finally turned the deadbolt.
I grabbed the heavy metal base of the changing table lamp.
Camille burst into the room, blood dripping from the cut on her forehead, her gun raised.
Before she could aim, I swung the heavy metal base with everything I had.
It struck her perfectly on the wrist.
There was a sickening crack, and she screamed, dropping the pistol to the floor.
I kicked the gun under the crib and backed away, breathing heavily.
Camille cradled her broken wrist, staring at me with pure, unadulterated hatred.
"You are going to die for that," she hissed.
Just as the words left her mouth, the front gates of the estate buzzed loudly.
Roman was home.
I instantly dropped the lamp base and began tearing at my own clothes.
I ripped the collar of my shirt, scratched my own cheek until it bled, and fell to the floor near the crib.
I started screaming for help at the top of my lungs.
Footsteps thundered up the grand staircase.
Roman burst into the nursery, accompanied by two massive bodyguards.
He surveyed the scene: Camille clutching her wrist, me bleeding on the floor, and the baby crying from the noise.
"What the hell is going on in here?" Roman roared.
Camille pointed her good hand at me, her face pale with pain.
"She attacked me!" Camille cried out, playing the victim perfectly.
"I came in to check on the baby, and she went crazy and hit me with a lamp!"
Roman looked down at me, his eyes narrowing with deadly intent.
"Is that true, Elena?"
I looked up at him, letting genuine tears of terror spill over my cheeks.
"She has a gun, Roman," I sobbed, pointing a shaking finger toward the crib.
"She tried to shoot me, but I managed to knock it out of her hand."
Roman’s lead bodyguard crouched down and pulled Camille’s suppressed pistol from under the crib.
He handed it to Roman.
Roman examined the weapon, noting the suppressor attached to the barrel.
He slowly turned his gaze back to his mistress.
"Why did you bring a silenced weapon into my son's nursery, Camille?"
Camille’s face drained of all color.
"Roman, I can explain," she stammered, backing toward the hallway.
Roman didn't say a word.
He simply raised his hand, and the back of his massive knuckles struck Camille directly across the jaw.
She collapsed onto the floor, completely unconscious.
Roman turned to his guards with a cold, terrifying calm.
"Throw her in the cellar."
He then looked down at me, his eyes completely devoid of any humanity.
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"Pack a bag for the boy, Elena."
"We are flying to Italy tonight, and you are never coming back."
