Page 38 of Hunter's Game
And in the middle of it all, Merrick Mitchell aimed a gun at Romano’s head.
“Did you really think I’d let you take over my operation?” Merrick’s laugh was cold. “That I’d just disappear and let you walk away with everything I built?”
“Merrick.” Romano’s smile never wavered. “I must admit, you’re harder to kill than I expected. Though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised—your daughter got that from somewhere.”
Eden moved through the shadows, getting closer to Katherine. The curator’s eyes met hers briefly, and Eden saw the silent message there. Whatever was about to happen, it was all part of the show.
“My daughter.” Merrick spat the words. “The federal agent you’ve been using to clean up your mess? That was a nice touch. Having Thompson feed her information, letting her think she was building a case against me when really she was just doing your dirty work.”
The words hit Eden like physical blows. She saw Hunter go still across the room, saw King’s hand tighten on his concealed weapon.
“Eden was always so eager to believe the worst of you,” Romano agreed. “It made her the perfect tool. Everything she did—investigating your operation, documenting your crimes, even killing Thompson—it all served to legitimize mytakeover. And now?” His smile turned cruel. “Now she’ll take the fall for everything. The grieving daughter gone rogue, desperate for revenge. It’s practically Shakespearean.”
“You son of a bitch.” The words left Eden’s lips before she could stop them.
Every gun in the room swung toward her. She straightened slowly, letting them see her evening gown, her carefully styled hair, the weapon she now held openly.
“Eden.” Her father’s voice carried a warning. “Put the gun down.”
“Or what?” She kept her aim steady on Romano. “You’ll kill me like you killed Mom? Finally finish what you started fifteen years ago?”
“Your mother died because she was weak.” Merrick’s eyes were cold. “Just like you’re weak. All that training, all that potential, and you still can’t see when you’re being played.”
“Oh, I can see just fine.” Eden’s smile was sharp as broken glass. “I see a lot of things. Like how you and Romano staged that little showdown at the clubhouse. How convenient that you managed to disappear with all the account records right before the Blind Jacks showed up.”
She saw the flicker of surprise in both men’s eyes and pressed her advantage.
“What I can’t figure out is why Katherine played along.” Eden kept her gun trained on Romano but her eyes locked on the curator. “Whyhelp me gather evidence against your husband if you were working with him the whole time?”
Katherine’s laugh was pure ice. “Who says I was working with either of them?”
Everything happened at once.
Katherine pulled a weapon from beneath her podium as more armed figures emerged from the crowd—not Romano’s men or Devil’s Mark patches, but something else entirely. Eden caught glimpses of familiar faces: federal agents she’d worked with, operators she’d trained with, people who should have been trustworthy.
“Did you really think you were the only one building a case?” Katherine’s smile was triumphant. “While you were all playing your little games of betrayal, I was documenting everything. The artifact smuggling, the private military corporation, the political bribes—all of it. And now?” She gestured to her hidden backup. “Now I have enough witnesses to bring down everyone in this room.”
“Brava.” Romano’s voice held genuine admiration. “I always knew you were ambitious, my dear. But this?” He shook his head. “This is truly impressive.”
“I learned from the best.” Katherine’s aim didn’t waver. “Fifteen years of watching you destroy lives, manipulate people, build your empire on blood money and broken trust. Did you really think I wouldn’t learn how to play the game?”
Eden’s mind raced. Nothing was what it seemed. Every player in this twisted drama had their own agenda, their own betrayals in motion. And somewhere in the chaos, she’d lost sight of Hunter.
A movement caught her eye—one of Katherine’s hidden agents shifting position. Something about his stance was familiar.
“Hunter.” His name left her lips just as all hell broke loose.
Multiple shots rang out. Eden dove for cover as bullets tore through priceless artifacts. Through the chaos, she caught glimpses of the truth.
Hunter, moving with deadly precision as he engaged Katherine’s men.
Her father, laughing as he put bullets into Romano’s security team.
Romano himself, calm as ever while he accessed something on his phone.
And Katherine, her triumphant smile never wavering as she pressed a button on her podium.
The floor beneath them shuddered.
