Chapter 13 - THE CHAPEL
The chapel smelled like dust, rain, and old money.
Elena entered behind Marcus and Detective Cole.
Police were searching the main estate.
The chapel was dark.
Rows of wooden pews disappeared into shadow.
Marcus found the electrical panel.
Lights flickered on.
At the altar stood Victoria.
Crimson dress.
Elena stopped.
Marcus raised his hands.
“Mom.”
Victoria looked exhausted.
For the first time in Elena’s memory, she looked old.
“Don’t come closer.”
Cole aimed her weapon.
“Victoria Hale, step away from the altar.”
Victoria held a metal can.
Gasoline.
Marcus stared.
“Don’t.”
She laughed softly.
“Your father said the same thing.”
Elena looked around.
Behind the altar stood filing cabinets.
Boxes.
Hard drives.
The archive.
Victoria poured gasoline over them.
Cole shouted.
“Put it down!”
Victoria looked at Elena.
“This is your fault.”
Elena almost laughed.
“Of course it is.”
“You came into my family.”
“Marcus invited me.”
“You became pregnant.”
“That happens when married people have sex, Victoria.”
Marcus almost choked.
Even Cole glanced at Elena.
Victoria’s face twisted.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
Elena stepped forward.
“I think you are finally scared.”
Victoria’s eyes flashed.
“You have no idea what I built.”
“I know exactly what you built.”
“A company. A legacy. A future.”
“You built a cage.”
“I kept this family alive!”
Marcus spoke.
“Dad was trying to expose you, wasn’t he?”
Victoria went still.
Elena looked at him.
Marcus’s voice cracked.
“His heart attack.”
Victoria stared at her son.
Then said, “Your father was weak.”
Marcus lost all color.
“No.”
“He wanted to destroy thirty years of work over a few adverse reactions.”
“A few?”
Elena stepped closer.
“People died.”
Victoria’s gaze landed on her belly.
“Progress costs something.”
Elena felt pure hatred.
“So did you kill him?”
Victoria didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
Marcus looked like someone had driven a blade through his chest.
Cole moved forward.
“Put down the gasoline.”
Victoria reached behind the altar.
She pulled out a gun.
Cole fired.
Victoria ducked.
The bullet hit stone.
Marcus dragged Elena behind a pew.
Victoria fired back.
Wood exploded above their heads.
Cole shouted for backup.
Elena looked at the side aisle.
A service door.
She remembered the estate plans.
There was another entrance behind the altar.
She whispered, “Keep her looking at you.”
Marcus grabbed her.
“No.”
“I can get behind her.”
“No way.”
“Elena—”
“Trust me.”
He stared at her.
Then slowly released her arm.
Elena crawled toward the side passage.
Her belly scraped the pew.
Her heart pounded.
She reached the narrow corridor.
Moved behind the chapel wall.
Found the hidden door.
She opened it silently.
Victoria stood ten feet away.
Elena stepped out.
“Victoria.”
Victoria spun.
The gun fired.
Marcus screamed.
Elena fell.
May you like
And blood spread across the front of her dress.
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