Chapter 3
Victor closed his fist over his dead brother’s cufflink. "Clear the hall. Now."
Within three minutes, the security team had ushered every high-profile guest out the double mahogany doors. Only Victor’s most trusted men remained stationed at the exits, along with Celeste, Claire, and little Eli.
Victor knelt in front of the boy, bringing his massive frame down to eye level. The terrifying aura that kept rival syndicates at bay softened into something unreadable.
"You did good, kid," Victor said quietly. "Nobody touches you in this house. Understand?"
Eli nodded timidly, leaning into Claire’s leg.
Victor stood and turned to Claire. "Marco died eight years ago in an ambush off the docks. Eli was born seven years ago. How does a dead man's cufflink end up under my private dining chair tonight?"
"I don't know," Claire insisted, clutching Eli closer. "I only took this catering job because Eli needed asthma medicine and the temp agency offered double pay for tonight's banquet! I didn't even know it was your estate until the vans pulled through the front gates."
"She's lying, Victor!" Celeste snapped, walking toward them. "Check her phone. Check her bank accounts. Someone hired her to sabotage our merger. My father's family won't sign the treaty if this circus continues!"
"Shut up, Celeste," Victor said without turning around.
Victor’s head of security, Mateo, stepped forward with a tablet in hand. Mateo had served the family for twenty years. "Boss, I checked the registry from the temp agency. Claire Bennett’s name was added to the service staff at five o'clock this afternoon. By direct authorization from inside the house."
Victor turned slowly toward Celeste. "Only three people have clearance to approve private estate staff on banquet nights. Me, Mateo, and my fiancée."
Celeste’s eyes flared with panic. "You think I brought her here? Are you insane? Why would I bring your bastard son into this house on the night of our engagement?"
"Because you didn't know the boy would be with her," Victor said chillingly. "You only wanted Claire here."
"No!" Celeste stepped back. "I didn't authorize anything!"
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Mateo tapped the screen again. "The authorization didn't come from Miss Celeste's terminal, Boss. It came from the family vault office. Using the master keycard that belonged to your brother Marco."
***
