Chapter 3
I cancelled nothing.
Not after Odessa begged me to.
I changed the plan instead.
The fireworks would begin exactly on schedule.
Guests would remain in the ballroom.
My men would watch every service corridor.
Odessa did not know that.
She thought the evening had stalled.
Good.
I asked Marielle why she had noticed the suitcase.
“I was changing flowers near the east passage.”
“Who carried it?”
“Mrs. Vale, Miss Odessa’s dresser.”
I knew the woman.
Forty-eight.
Worked for Odessa’s family since childhood.
Gone now.
Of course.
Rafe checked her quarters.
Empty.
Personal belongings removed.
Not hurried.
Prepared.
I returned to Odessa.
“Your dresser left.”
“She had permission.”
“From whom?”
Silence.
Nine forty-eight.
Twelve minutes.
I took her phone from the table.
She objected.
I ignored it.
No need to unlock it yet.
The screen displayed three unanswered calls from a contact saved only as J.
Then a message appeared.
READY AT EAST GATE.
Odessa stopped breathing.
I turned the screen toward her.
“J?”
No answer.
I knew several possibilities.
Then Marielle said:
“Julian.”
Odessa stared at her.
Interesting.
“How do you know?”
Marielle hesitated.
“He came to the staff entrance last week.”
“Who is he?”
Odessa answered before Marielle could.
“My brother.”
Good.
Julian was supposedly in Switzerland handling family business.
Apparently Switzerland had moved to my east gate.
“What did he want last week?”
Marielle looked at Odessa before speaking.
“He asked which doors stayed unlocked during large dinners.”
Odessa whispered:
“You little spy.”
I stood.
Marielle froze.
Not because I moved toward her.
Because she expected punishment.
I turned toward Odessa.
“She works here.”
My voice dropped.
“Seeing things is part of being alive.”
Then the first firework exploded outside.
The glass conservatory flashed white.
Odessa’s face went pale.
Rafe’s voice came through my earpiece.
“Movement at east gate.”
“How many?”
“Three.”
“Stop them quietly.”
Another explosion.
Music rose.
Guests applauded from the ballroom.
May you like
I looked at my fiancée.
Whatever she had scheduled for ten o’clock had just arrived without her.
