Chapter 7: A Desperate Gambit
The metallic click of the pistol slide being pulled back sounded deafening in the quiet study. Julianna advanced another step, her eyes wide and manic, the aristocratic facade completely shattered, revealing the desperate, ruthless predator beneath. She raised the suppressed firearm slightly, leveling it directly at Alyssa’s shoulder.
“Walk away from the desk, Alyssa,” Julianna commanded, her voice dropping to an icy hiss. “Step toward the window. We are going to finish this properly.”
Alyssa’s eyes darted around the room, searching for anything—a heavy book, a brass paperweight, a distraction. Her fingers brushed against the edge of the heavy mahogany desk, grazing the corner of a solid brass desk lamp. She knew if she moved toward the window, she would never make it back. The balcony drop was real, and Julianna would not hesitate to push her over.
“You think Vance will protect you forever?” Alyssa stalled, keeping her voice calm and steady, drawing on every ounce of courtroom presence she possessed. “Men like Vance don't have loyalty to partners, Julianna. They have loyalty to survival. The moment federal investigators audit the offshore accounts listed in this folder—which are currently syncing to my cloud attorney backup—Vance will throw you to the wolves.”
Julianna hesitated for a fraction of a second, her hand wavering slightly. “Cloud backup? You don’t have access to the internet. The network here is entirely firewalled.”
“Not the estate network,” Alyssa lied smoothly, bluffing with absolute conviction. “Before I came downstairs, my encrypted satellite transmitter routed the files directly to the federal district attorney's office. The timer is set for midnight. If I’m not online to cancel the transmission, the entire dossier drops automatically.”
For a terrifying three seconds, Julianna believed her. The red-haired woman’s eyes darted toward the computer terminal on the desk, calculating the risk. In that split second of hesitation, Alyssa acted.
With a surge of adrenaline-fueled fury, Alyssa grabbed the heavy brass desk lamp and hurled it directly at Julianna’s face. At the same time, she dove sideways, sweeping the manila folder off the desk and clutching it tightly against her chest.
The heavy brass lamp struck Julianna’s shoulder, knocking her off balance and causing the suppressed pistol to discharge harmlessly into the ceiling plaster. A shower of white dust rained down across the Persian rug.
May you like
Julianna shrieked in rage, stumbling backward against the bookshelf as heavy leather-bound volumes rained down around her.
Alyssa didn't hesitate. She scrambled across the floor, bolted through the open study door, and sprinted down the dimly lit hallway toward the service stairs. Behind her, Julianna’s furious voice echoed through the corridors: “Stop her! Lock down the estate! Find her!”
