Chapter 6 - The Bullet Meant For Her
Everything happened at once.
Victor shoved Dora behind him.
Another gunshot cracked through the house.
People screamed.
Glass shattered.
Victor's men drew weapons.
"Dora, stay down."
She crouched behind a stone column.
Jessica appeared at the staircase.
Blood covered her shoulder.
Her father stood behind her.
Holding the gun.
Dora stared.
"No."
Jessica stumbled.
Victor's security team surrounded him.
"Drop it!"
Arthur Trent smiled.
"You're too late, Vale."
Victor raised his weapon.
"Put it down."
Arthur laughed.
"You still don't understand."
He pointed toward Dora.
"She was never the target."
Dora's blood ran cold.
"Then who was?"
Arthur looked at Victor.
"You."
He fired.
Victor barely moved.
His bodyguards returned fire.
Arthur was hit and collapsed.
Richard disappeared through a side corridor.
Jessica fell.
Dora rushed toward her.
Victor grabbed her.
"No."
"She's bleeding."
"Stay back."
Dora looked at Jessica.
"Help her."
Victor hesitated.
Then nodded.
Dora pressed her hands against Jessica's wound.
Jessica cried through clenched teeth.
"Why are you helping me?"
Dora stared at her.
"Because I'm not you."
Jessica's eyes filled with tears.
"My father killed your mother."
Dora froze.
"What?"
"He didn't pull the trigger."
"Who did?"
Jessica whispered a name.
Dora nearly stopped breathing.
"Richard."
Victor heard.
His expression became murderous.
Jessica continued.
"Your mother found evidence that Richard was stealing from the Vale empire. She threatened to expose him. He killed her."
Dora shook her head.
"Why would he leave me alive?"
"Because your mother hid the evidence inside your childhood necklace."
Dora touched her neck.
She had worn the necklace for twenty years.
A cheap silver pendant.
Her mother's last gift.
Victor looked at it.
"Take it off."
Dora hesitated.
He gently opened the clasp.
Inside the hollow pendant was a tiny memory card.
Dora stared in disbelief.
Her mother had hidden the truth around her neck.
Marcus took the card.
"We need a secure system."
Victor nodded.
Then Jessica grabbed Dora's wrist.
"There is more."
"What?"
"Richard wasn't acting alone."
Jessica looked at Victor.
"Your father's death wasn't just a business murder."
Victor's face hardened.
"What was it?"
Jessica whispered, "He knew about the election money."
"What election money?"
"The money being used to control judges, prosecutors and politicians."
Victor understood.
This was bigger than his family.
Much bigger.
Dora suddenly realized something else.
"Who was the fourth man?"
Jessica looked at her.
"Someone who still has access to your life."
Victor's phone rang.
He answered.
A voice said:
"You should check your apartment."
The call ended.
Victor looked at Dora.
May you like
Her face went white.
Someone had broken into her home.
