CHAPTER 2 — The Woman Everyone Wanted Dead
The click of dozens of guns echoed through the ballroom.
Every exit was sealed.
Every guest backed away as though death itself had entered the room.
Alexander Kane never took his eyes off me.
"Search her."
Two guards stepped forward.
One grabbed my wrists while the other searched every pocket of my uniform.
Clipboard.
Pen.
Phone.
Nothing else.
"No weapon, Boss."
Vanessa didn't even blink.
"Professionals don't carry the poison on them."
She spoke with heartbreaking disappointment, as though she were defending the man she loved.
"You know that better than anyone."
Several guests nodded.
It made perfect sense.
Too perfect.
Alexander finally released my waist.
"You have one chance."
His voice was colder than marble.
"Convince me."
I looked directly into his eyes.
"If I wanted you dead, why would I kiss you in front of three hundred witnesses?"
Silence.
Even Alexander paused.
I continued.
"Everyone saw me stop you."
"I became the first suspect the second I touched you."
"No assassin would choose the stupidest way to kill the most protected man in New York."
The room became quiet.
Logic was dangerous.
Because it couldn't easily be ignored.
Before anyone could respond, another security guard hurried toward Alexander.
He carried a portable chemical scanner.
His hands trembled.
"We tested the champagne."
Alexander's expression never changed.
"Result?"
"...Positive."
A collective gasp swept through the ballroom.
"Cyanide derivative."
The guard swallowed.
"Extremely rare."
"Military-grade."
Every face turned toward Vanessa.
Only for a second.
She laughed softly.
"Amazing."
She slowly clapped her hands.
"So this girl poisons the drink..."
"...then somehow convinces everyone I did it?"
She looked genuinely amused.
"Alexander."
She stepped closer.
"You know me."
"I've loved you for three years."
She reached for his hand.
"I would never—"
"Stop."
Alexander spoke only one word.
She froze.
It was the first time anyone in the room had ever seen Vanessa Blackwell hesitate.
Alexander looked at me.
"What residue did you see?"
"A silver-gray metallic film."
"What poison leaves that?"
"I don't know its chemical name."
"My father investigated organized crime."
"He taught me what to look for."
That single sentence changed everything.
Alexander narrowed his eyes.
"Your father."
"My father was Daniel Carter."
The reaction was immediate.
One of Alexander's older bodyguards actually stepped backward.
Another whispered,
"Carter..."
Alexander became very still.
"I remember that name."
"He died nine years ago."
"He was murdered."
I corrected him.
"Not killed."
"Murdered."
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
Only for an instant.
But I saw it.
Recognition.
She knew my father.
Alexander noticed it too.
Very slowly...
He turned toward his fiancée.
"Vanessa."
"When exactly did you first meet Daniel Carter?"
She answered too quickly.
"I don't remember."
"You should."
Alexander replied quietly.
"My people say you never forget a face."
For the first time that evening...
Vanessa looked nervous.
That was when the lights went out.
The ballroom plunged into darkness.
Women screamed.
Gunshots exploded.
Someone shouted,
"Protect the Boss!"
The emergency lights flickered red.
Bodies crashed against tables.
Glass shattered everywhere.
In the chaos...
Someone grabbed my arm.
I expected another guard.
Instead, a deep voice whispered beside my ear.
"Run."
Alexander Kane.
He shoved a pistol into my hand.
"If you're innocent..."
May you like
"...stay alive."
Then the gunfire began again.
