Chapter 12 - VANESSA’S CHOICE
Vanessa was missing too.
For two hours, nobody could find her.
Then Clara received a text.
COME ALONE.
An address followed.
Marcus said, “Absolutely not.”
Clara grabbed her coat.
“She may know where Leo is.”
“She may be setting you up.”
“She may.”
“You’re not going alone.”
“She asked for me.”
Marcus blocked the door.
“So did Julian.”
Clara looked him in the eyes.
“Then stay ten minutes behind me.”
He hated the plan.
He agreed anyway.
The address led to a small church outside the city.
Vanessa sat alone in the last pew.
No makeup.
No designer dress.
Just jeans, a sweater, and a swollen face.
“You came.”
“Where’s Leo?”
“I don’t know.”
Clara nearly turned around.
Vanessa said, “But I know where Julian will take him.”
Clara stopped.
“Where?”
“The old Whitmore estate.”
“Your family’s property?”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“My family doesn’t own it anymore. Julian does.”
Clara sat three rows behind her.
“Why are you helping us?”
Vanessa stared at the altar.
“Because Elena helped me once.”
Clara waited.
Vanessa’s voice softened.
“I wasn’t rich when Marcus met me.”
“No kidding.”
Vanessa ignored the jab.
“I grew up with a mother who drank and a father who disappeared. At nineteen I got involved with Julian.”
Clara’s anger sharpened.
“How involved?”
“He owned my debt.”
“What does that mean?”
“He paid for school. Apartment. Clothes. Everything.”
“And collected favors.”
“Yes.”
Vanessa looked ashamed.
“He sent me into Marcus’s life.”
Clara crossed her arms.
“So the engagement was fake.”
“At first.”
“At first?”
Vanessa looked at her.
“I fell in love with him.”
Clara scoffed.
“You humiliated his son.”
“I know.”
“You grabbed him.”
“I know.”
“You called him a brat.”
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“I know!”
The church echoed.
She lowered her voice.
“I thought if I got the ring before Julian, I could destroy the evidence and end it.”
“That makes no sense.”
“I was scared.”
“That’s not an excuse.”
“No.”
Vanessa looked down.
“It’s just the truth.”
Clara studied her.
For once, Vanessa wasn’t asking to be forgiven.
That made Clara trust her slightly more.
“What happens at midnight?”
“Julian will force Marcus to sign away control of the company.”
“He can’t do that with a gun and expect it to hold up.”
“He doesn’t care.”
“Why?”
“Because he isn’t planning to keep Marcus alive.”
Clara’s stomach dropped.
Vanessa reached into her purse.
Clara tensed.
Vanessa pulled out a small key.
“This opens a service gate at the Whitmore estate.”
Clara took it.
“Why don’t you come?”
Vanessa looked toward the church doors.
“I am.”
A gunshot cracked.
The stained-glass window shattered.
Vanessa threw herself at Clara.
Both hit the floor.
A second bullet struck the pew.
Marcus burst through a side entrance.
“DOWN!”
He fired toward the balcony.
A man ran.
Police swarmed outside.
When Clara sat up, Vanessa was lying beside her.
Blood soaked her sweater.
Clara grabbed her.
“Vanessa!”
Vanessa coughed.
Her eyes found Clara’s.
“Save Leo.”
“Stay awake.”
“Tell Marcus…”
“What?”
Vanessa’s voice weakened.
“Tell him Elena wasn’t Julian’s first victim.”
Clara stared.
“Who was?”
Vanessa whispered one name.
“His mother.”
May you like
Then her eyes closed.
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