Chapter 6
The rain beat down furiously against the cobblestone courtyard of the Costello estate.
Tail lights of a black Mercedes flashed near the east security gate.
Victoria Kensington sat in the passenger seat, tapping her manicured nails against the leather dashboard.
“Arthur, hurry up,” Victoria snapped at her father, who was arguing with the gate guard.
“The system is locked down electronically,” Arthur Kensington shouted over the storm, his face slick with rain and panic. “Costami’s overrides are active.”
Suddenly, the headlights of Damian’s private SUV swept across the courtyard, blinding them.
The SUV blocked the exit path completely.
Arthur cursed loudly and threw the Mercedes into reverse.
The passenger door swung open.
Damian stepped out into the pouring rain, his dark trench coat billowing behind him.
Clara stepped out right behind him, holding the manila folder under her arm.
Victoria rolled down her window, forcing a sweet, rehearsed smile.
“Damian, darling! What is the meaning of this?” Victoria called out, her voice dripping with false innocence. “There are gunmen inside! We need to leave.”
Damian walked slowly toward the Mercedes.
He didn’t look at Victoria. His eyes were locked on Arthur Kensington in the driver’s seat.
“Cut the act, Arthur,” Damian said, his voice cutting through the thunder. “The lockdown was mine.”
Arthur’s face turned the color of ash.
“You’re throwing away a billion-dollar merger over a dead maid?” Arthur sneered, dropping the polite facade.
Clara stepped into the glow of the headlights.
Victoria’s eyes widened in genuine shock as she finally recognized the girl from the kitchen.
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“You...” Victoria hissed. “You’re Joanne’s brat.”
“And you’re a murderer,” Clara replied steadily, stepping right up to the driver’s side window.
