Chapter 1 – THE SOUND OF A DEADLY LOCK

The click of the dining room doors locking echoed like a gunshot.

Raymond stood inches behind me. I could smell the scotch on his breath.

Gabriel didn’t shout. He didn’t reach for a weapon. He just slowly stood up, placing Lily securely behind his legs.

“Unlock the doors, Raymond,” Gabriel said. His voice was terrifyingly calm.

Cassandra took a step back, her elegant facade cracking. “Gabriel, be reasonable. You’ve gone soft. The family needs strong leadership.”

“The family,” Gabriel repeated, his eyes never leaving his brother. “You mean my empire. You want it for yourself.”

I felt something hard press against my lower back. A gun.

“Tell your maid to walk toward me,” Raymond whispered. “Or I’ll make a mess on Cassandra’s new rugs.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. I looked at Lily, who was sobbing silently, clutching her father’s suit jacket.

“Don’t hurt her!” Lily cried out.

Gabriel’s eyes flicked to me, calculating the distance. “Let Natalie go. This is between us.”

“She knows too much now,” Raymond sneered.

Suddenly, Gabriel kicked the heavy oak dining table. It slammed into Raymond’s knees.

The gun went off, shattering the chandelier above us. Glass rained down like diamonds.

I grabbed Lily’s hand and pulled her under the table.

Screams erupted as the thirty-two guests scrambled for cover. In the chaos, Gabriel lunged at his brother.

I crawled through the broken glass, shielding Lily’s head. “Stay with me, sweetie,” I whispered.

We made it to the hallway door. I pushed it open just as another shot rang out.

I turned back. Gabriel was on his knees, clutching his side. And Raymond was raising the gun again.

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