Chapter 12 - THE BRIDE
Massimo did not raise his voice.
That frightened Camille more.
“What becomes permanent?” he asked.
She wiped her face. “The voting trust. Once we were married, I would control your shares if two doctors declared you incompetent.”
“And Hale was one doctor.”
“Yes.”
“Who was the second?”
“I don’t know.”
He laughed bitterly. “You expect me to believe there are limits to your betrayal?”
“I never wanted you dead.”
“That your defense?”
“Dean said no one would hurt you.”
“He had me shot.”
“I didn’t know about the ambush until later.”
Massimo moved closer. “And when you learned?”
She looked down.
He understood.
“You stayed.”
“I was scared.”
“Of him?”
“Of all of you.”
Massimo’s anger snapped. “Then leave!”
Camille flinched.
“You had money. Friends. A passport. You could’ve walked out any day you wanted. Don’t sit there and tell a man whose legs you helped steal that you had no way to leave.”
She sobbed.
For once, he did not comfort her.
Downstairs, Nina ate pancakes in the kitchen while Carla kept glancing toward every doorway.
“More syrup?” Rosa asked.
Nina nodded seriously. “A lot.”
Carla managed a smile.
Massimo entered alone.
Nina waved. “Uncle Massimo!”
He looked wrecked.
Carla stood. “What happened?”
“Camille knew.”
Carla closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“So am I.”
Nina held up a sticky fork. “Pancake?”
Massimo stared at her, then laughed softly.
“Yes. Pancake.”
For ten minutes, the world almost felt normal.
Then Marco entered.
“Dean’s gone.”
Massimo put the fork down.
“What?”
“One guard is unconscious. The other is missing.”
Carla stood immediately. “Nina, upstairs.”
Marco shook his head.
“Too late.”
He held up Dean’s phone, recovered from the guest suite.
A message had been sent six minutes earlier to an unknown number.
May you like
It contained two words.
TAKE GIRL.
