Chapter 18 - The Last Betrayal|
Celeste Moretti was waiting in the drawing room when Dominic returned from the north wing.
She stood beside the fireplace wearing an ivory silk blouse and dark trousers.
Her jewelry glittered beneath the chandelier.
She looked perfectly composed.
Until Dominic placed a photograph on the table.
The photograph showed her speaking to Owen Mercer through the kitchen service window.
Celeste stared at it.
Then her expression collapsed.
“Where did you get that?”
Dominic didn't answer.
He placed a second photograph beside the first.
Owen standing near Ethan's cake.
Then a third.
Simon Voss entering the service corridor.
“Tell me why my son nearly died.”
Celeste's lips trembled.
“Dominic, I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
She sank into a chair.
“Simon told me the boy would become sick.”
I stopped breathing.
“What?”
Celeste looked at me.
“He said it would be temporary. A harmless incident that would force Dominic to transfer Ethan's care.”
Dominic stared at her.
“You planned to make my son sick?”
Celeste began crying.
“I needed the trusteeship transferred.”
“Why?”
“Because Simon told me Adrian's money was gone!”
Her voice rose.
“He said your brother's estate had been drained before he died. That if the foundation lost its funding, everything Adrian built would collapse.”
Dominic's expression remained cold.
“So you traded Ethan's safety for money.”
“I didn't know about the allergen!”
“Did you ask what Owen intended to put on the cake?”
Celeste looked down.
That was answer enough.
Dominic turned away.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Celeste whispered:
“Simon promised no one would die.”
Dominic looked back at her.
“And you believed him because believing him was convenient.”
Her tears continued falling.
But Dominic showed no sympathy.
“You're going to tell the investigators everything.”
Celeste shook her head.
“Simon will destroy me.”
“He already has.”
Gabriel entered carrying his phone.
“Boss, we have Owen.”
Dominic turned.
“Where?”
“An associate of his gave us the location. He's been hiding at a private medical facility in Queens.”
My stomach tightened.
“A medical facility?”
Gabriel nodded.
“Saint Agnes has been funding it for years.”
Dominic looked toward me.
I could see him reaching the same terrible conclusion.
The conspiracy had never been limited to lawyers and inheritance documents.
It had connections inside medical institutions, too.
Then Gabriel's phone rang again.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“Simon Voss has requested clearance for a private flight out of New York.”
Dominic moved toward the door.
“Notify the authorities and secure the airport.”
Gabriel followed.
Before leaving, Dominic stopped beside Celeste.
“You looked me in the eye at my son's birthday party.”
His voice was almost a whisper.
“And you watched me thank God he was alive.”
Celeste lowered her head.
Dominic stepped away.
Then my phone rang.
An unfamiliar voice spoke.
“Mrs. Ellis?”
“Yes?”
“This is a nurse calling about Ethan Moretti's medical appointment tomorrow.”
I frowned.
“What appointment?”
“Dr. Harris requested an urgent evaluation.”
The woman paused.
“There's been a change of location.”
My heart began pounding.
May you like
Because Ethan wasn't supposed to leave the protected house.
And somebody was still trying to move him.
