Chapter 24 - Whispers in the Dark
The tension inside the ballroom was thick enough to choke on. The socialites parted like the Red Sea as Clara, Julian, and Constance glided toward the dais where Lady Elena Moretti stood cornered by her own grandeur.
"Lady Constance," Elena purred, recovering her composure with a venomous smile, though the pulse in her throat fluttered betrayingly. "And Julian. How unexpected. Rumors suggested the Vance family was... otherwise detained this evening."
"Rumors are the currency of cowards, Elena," Constance replied, her tone dripping with aristocratic disdain. "We found your little housewarming gift on our front lawn. The trash has already been incinerated."
Elena’s eyes shifted to Clara, her gaze narrowing into slits. "And you must be the stray Julian pulled from the gutters. The innocent little bride pretending to wear the crown of an empire."
Clara took a single step forward. She didn't raise her voice; she didn't lose her poise. But the icy intensity in her green eyes made Elena unconsciously lean back.
"You spent twelve million dollars hiring international mercenaries to break into my home last night, Elena," Clara whispered, her voice carrying clearly enough for the nearest syndicate financiers to hear every word. "Four of them died in my hallway. Two are currently in our sub-basement answering Julian's questions with whatever teeth they have left. And the offshore accounts in Grand Cayman you used to wire their advance payments? Frozen two hours ago by the Federal Banking Commission, courtesy of a blind data dump from my personal tablet."
Elena’s face drained of color. "You're bluffing. You couldn't possibly bypass—"
"I didn't bypass anything," Clara interrupted smoothly, sipping from a glass of sparkling water she had taken from a passing tray. "Your chief financial officer has a mistress in Monaco who likes to talk. You thought you were dealing with an old woman and a grieving widower's son. You forgot that the new mistress of the Vance house knows exactly how gutter rats scurry when the lights turn on."
Elena’s hand tightened on her glass. "The Council of Seven will not allow this insolence. You have declared war on an order that predates your entire family!"
"No," Julian stepped up beside Clara, placing his hand possessively on her waist, his voice rumbling like impending thunder. "You declared war on us when you aimed a rifle at my wife. The Council won't save you, Elena. Because before sunrise, we will show them that dealing with you is bad for business."
Just as Julian finished speaking, Salieri materialized at Julian's shoulder, leaning in to whisper urgently into his ear.
Julian's expression darkened into absolute fury. He leaned down to Clara and Constance.
"We need to leave now," Julian muttered, his voice barely audible over the orchestra. "Our head of tactical communications just vanished from the estate. And half our perimeter defenses have been shut down remotely."
There wasn't just an enemy in front of them in silk.
May you like
There was a traitor sitting at the very heart of the Vance family sanctuary.
***
