Chapter 4 - Darkness Falls
Total darkness swallowed the banquet hall, broken only by the pale moonlight streaming through the towering arched windows. For a second, the only sound was the heavy, ragged breathing of the men standing in the shadows.
“Stay where you are,” Julian commanded sharply, his voice cutting through the gloom.
“Nobody moves toward the doors.”
Elena gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles turning white.
“What is happening? Is this part of your security protocol?”
“No,” Julian murmured, the sound of his footsteps shifting as he moved cautiously away from the table.
“The main power grid for this entire district just shut down simultaneously.”
Marcus laughed in the dark, a harsh, erratic sound that raised the hair on Elena’s arms.
“You think you’re so smart, Julian? You think locking me down in this room protects you? The men I dealt with don't wait for paperwork. They operate in the dark.”
A loud crash echoed from the main lobby outside the banquet hall, followed by the sound of breaking glass and heavy boots marching across the marble floor. The groomsmen instantly dropped Marcus, drawing sleek security batons from their jackets and forming a defensive perimeter around the table.
“Elena, stay down,” Julian ordered, his hand gripping her shoulder to guide her beneath the heavy wooden table.
“I’m not hiding,” Elena whispered fiercely, though she allowed him to push her down.
“My father’s house is on the line. I need to see who is coming through that door.”
Through the gap beneath the tablecloth, Elena watched as the heavy oak doors were slowly pushed open by an unseen hand. A tall silhouette stepped into the dim moonlight, wearing a long trench coat and holding a heavy silver-handled cane.
“Marcus,” a smooth, chilling voice called out into the cavernous room.
“Playing hide and seek on your wedding night? That is remarkably poor etiquette.”
Marcus shrank back against the wall, all the bravado completely draining from his posture.
“Mr. Vance. I can explain. The funds are being recovered right now—look, the documents are right on the table.”
Mr. Vance stepped further into the light, his face lined with age but his eyes sharp as broken glass. He ignored Marcus entirely, turning his gaze directly toward the table where Elena and Julian stood.
“Mrs. Vance,” the older man said politely, tipping his head.
“Or should I say, Miss Reynolds. It appears your wedding has been canceled by force majeure.”
Julian stepped in front of Elena, shielding her from Vance’s direct line of sight.
“This transaction is over, Vance. The federal authorities already have copies of every ledger.”
Vance smiled calmly, tapping his cane against the marble floor.
“Authorities, Julian? In this city, authorities are simply people who haven't been paid enough yet.”
May you like
Before Julian could respond, Vance raised his left hand, and three armed men stepped past him into the hall, leveling suppressed firearms directly at the center of the room.
---
