Chapter 12 - A Deadly Resurfacing
Rose’s knuckles turned white around the edge of the silver tray.
"Nathaniel," Rose breathed into the transmitter. "Victoria is here."
"What?!" Nathaniel’s roar nearly blew out her earpiece. "She was transferred to Rikers Island awaiting trial!"
"She posted a fifty-million-dollar cash bail through Julian's shell company three hours ago," Rose observed quietly, slipping behind a marble pillar. "She isn't wearing an ankle monitor. They forged diplomatic papers for her."
On the grand staircase, Victoria looked completely unbothered by her recent downfall. Her manicured fingers rested possessively on Julian’s arm.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Julian’s voice resonated through the banquet hall’s sound system, commanding instant silence. "Tonight, we celebrate the true restoration of the Sterling name. Tomorrow morning, upon the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange, the proxy board will vote to remove my reckless nephew from his seat. The Sterling legacy will return to those who possess the stomach to rule it."
Applause rippled through the room—a symphony of greedy aristocrats eager to carve up Nathaniel’s empire.
"Now if you’ll excuse me," Julian smiled thinly, "I have a personal family matter to settle upstairs."
Julian turned, whispering something to Victoria before heading toward the private elevator behind the grand staircase. Victoria lingered behind, scanning the crowd with hawk-like precision.
Rose moved like a ghost through the service corridor, slipping through a heavy fire door into the back stairwell.
"Rose, Julian is heading to the third floor," Nathaniel warned, the engine of the surveillance van revving in the background. "The tactical team is in position. Say the word and we blow the front gates."
"No!" Rose whispered, taking the concrete stairs three at a time. "The second you breach the gates, Julian executes Leo and claims self-defense under diplomatic law! Wait until I have Leo clear of the room!"
She reached the third-floor landing. The hallway was guarded by two men in body armor.
Rose didn't hesitate. She pulled the electronic scrambler from her inner thigh, pressed the primary activation switch, and threw it down the corridor.
A deafening electromagnetic pulse flashed. The overhead lights exploded in a shower of sparks. The electronic locks on every door clicked open simultaneously, and the guards’ encrypted radios shrieked with high-frequency feedback, dropping them to their knees as they clutched their ears.
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Rose darted forward, swinging the heavy silver serving tray with every ounce of force she possessed, striking the nearest guard squarely across the temple.
***
