Chapter 14 - BENEATH THE BALLROOM
Noah entered the elevator with two tactical officers.
The car descended beneath the hotel.
Concrete replaced marble.
The doors opened into a narrow corridor lined with old wine storage rooms.
Lily’s cries echoed from behind a steel door.
Noah rushed forward.
An officer stopped him.
A thin wire crossed the floor.
It was connected to an explosive device near the door hinge.
Scarlett had prepared the corridor.
The bomb squad was called.
The timer above the ballroom continued counting down.
Seventeen minutes remained.
At the hospital, Mia studied the building plans.
The corridor had once connected to a private subway entrance used by wealthy guests during the 1940s.
The passage was not shown on current blueprints.
Mia remembered Eleanor’s coded message.
The lion sleeps beneath the east rose.
She looked at an old photograph of the ballroom.
A golden rose was carved into the eastern wall.
“The vault entrance is not beneath the stage.”
She spoke into the command channel.
“It’s under the east wall.”
Noah turned away from the trapped door.
Officers searched the corridor and found a rusted service panel.
Behind it was a narrow stairway.
They climbed into a circular vault room.
Shelves held decades of Vale family records.
At the center stood Scarlett beside Lily’s transport bassinet.
She held a pistol.
Victor stood near the opposite wall.
Blood stained his sleeve.
He had abandoned his suit jacket and looked exhausted.
Scarlett pointed the gun toward him.
“You said you would protect me.”
Victor laughed softly.
“You were useful.”
“Nothing more.”
Noah raised his hands.
“Scarlett.”
“Step away from Lily.”
Scarlett looked at him.
“You chose Mia before she even knew your name.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Father wanted you to lead the company.”
“Mother wanted you to inherit the estate.”
“Everyone wanted you.”
“No one ever asked what I wanted.”
Noah’s voice softened.
“I spent my entire life protecting you.”
“You controlled me.”
“No.”
“Victor controlled you.”
Her hand trembled.
Victor moved toward a side door.
Scarlett swung the gun toward him.
A shot exploded through the vault.
Victor fell against the wall.
The bullet struck his shoulder.
Officers moved forward.
Scarlett grabbed Lily’s bassinet and pulled it closer.
“Stay back.”
Noah froze.
Lily’s weak cries filled the vault.
Scarlett looked down at the infant.
For a brief second, something human returned to her face.
Then Victor laughed through the pain.
“You cannot even finish what you started.”
Scarlett turned toward him.
May you like
That distraction was enough.
Noah lunged.
