Page 97 of Tattletale

“Same here. You make sure my bride makes it back to me safe and sound, okay?”

“Roger that.” She clears her throat and lowers her voice. “I love you, Lance.”

I can’t control my grin. If she could see my playful expression, she’d know what was coming next. “Say it again…using my real name.”

I picture her rolling her eyes. “I knew you were going to do that.” She laughs. “I love you, Levi Moore.” There’s a loud ding in the background, like the arrival of an elevator. “I have to go, Lance. Give me one hour and meet me in the break room at headquarters with the supplies, okay?”

“Got it. Oh, hey, wait—”

“Yes?”

“I love you, too, C.”

CRICKET

My warm smile has returned. Somehow, even in the midst of what can only be described as a disaster of a situation, I feel grounded and safe. After hanging up with Lance, I tuck my phone into my back pocket and proceed to the open elevator in Gabriel’s penthouse foyer.

He’s getting packed, just the essentials. I’m going to pick up what we need from headquarters to obscurely board a commercial flight. A private jet would be too much of a tip-off. Right now, Gabriel needs to blend, and Vienne needs to be wondering where he went. Gabriel has a friend in Rome who can hide him until we can ensure his safe return to the U.S.

The elevator doors close, and I only descend three floors before it stops. The doors peel apart, and in front of me stands a gentleman in a butler’s uniform. He’s holding a silver platter balanced in his palm, and a clean white cloth folded over his forearm. “Are you going up, miss?” he asks with a smile.

“Actually, down,” I say. I examine his uniform once more and ask, “Are you headed to the penthouse by chance?”

“Indeed. I’m Borris, Mr. Lochland’s personal butler.”

I nod with a smile. “I actually just came from his room, and I think he’s headed out.” I point to the platter in his hand. “I already made him breakfast, and he didn’t have much of an appetite.”

“Ah, you must be Miss O’Leary.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Well, if Mr. Lochland doesn’t have an appetite, I’ll just return this to the kitchen.” Borris steps into the elevator beside me. “Down we go, then.”

I press the “L” for lobby button and wait for the elevator doors to close. The very moment they do, Borris elbows the emergency stop button.

“What’re you—”

Clank.He takes the lid off the silver platter, revealing a pistol. My instincts kicking in, I lunge for the gun. I knock the tray out of his hand, and the gun slides to the corner of the elevator. When he makes a move to recover it, I tackle him to the ground. On my belly now, I crawl, trying to beat him to the weapon. I kick Borris in the head with the heel of my shoe as hard as I can, but he still puts up a fight. He yanks me back by my long ponytail and elbows me with all his might in the spine.

“Ah,”I gasp out. He hits a nerve, and for a brief moment, my limbs seem to go numb. Taking advantage of my brief paralysis, he grabs the gun and stands over me with the barrel pointed right at my neck.

It dawns on me that this is not actually Borris…and I’ve been set up.

No way this was Vienne.

There’s only one person who could’ve orchestrated this attack.

I hang my head, knowing my options are futile with the gun this close. Instead, I close my eyes and picture Lance’s face. I try to focus on him smiling, not the anguish that I know will overcome him when he finds out I was killed in an elevator.

I love you, C.

I let the words play in my head over and over, focusing on his voice that I was listening to just moments ago. At least I got to hear it one last time.

I love you… I love you….

The gun deploys, and there’s a painful, sharp sting in my neck.

But there was no bang.

---