Chapter 6 - Blood and Ice
The rain fell in sheets over the Vance Long Island private manor.
Julian pulled his rented sedan through the unlocked iron gates, his headlights cutting through the thick fog. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel. Beside him in the passenger seat sat Chloe, wearing an oversized trench coat, her face pale with nervous greed.
"Are you sure she's here?" Chloe asked, checking her reflection in the visor mirror. "If she has billions, Julian, why did she let us treat her like garbage for three years?"
"Because she's an idiot who wanted true love," Julian sneered, pulling out an unregistered revolver from the glove compartment and tucking it into his jacket. "We get inside. We threaten the baby. She signs the trust surrender and the marriage settlement. Once the paperwork is wired to Dante, we take the morning flight to Zurich."
They forced open the heavy French doors of the terrace. The estate was dead silent. No alarms sounded.
"Clara?" Julian called out, stepping into the dimly lit great hall. "Clara, stop hiding! I know you're here! Let's talk like adults!"
A single spotlight clicked on overhead.
Sitting on a high-backed velvet chair in the center of the ballroom was Clara. She was no longer wearing worn oversized sweaters. She wore a tailored midnight-blue evening gown, diamond teardrop earrings, and her hair swept up in an elegant chignon. In her hand, she swirled a glass of vintage Pinot Noir.
Flanking her were six armed Vance security operatives, their laser sights painting bright red dots across Julian’s and Chloe's chests.
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Julian froze. Chloe let out a muffled shriek and dropped behind Julian.
"Welcome, Julian," I said, my voice smooth and utterly devoid of emotion. "You're late. Dante called my father thirty minutes ago to settle your debt."
