Chapter 7 - The Confrontation at Midnight
Thomas and Julia sprinted back up the grand staircase. The mansion felt different now—no longer a sad, quiet tomb, but a battleground.
When they reached the master suite, Thomas didn't bother trying the handle. He stepped back, lifted his heavy boot, and delivered a powerful kick right next to the lock. The wood splintered with a loud crack. He kicked it a second time, and the heavy door flew open.
The room was in chaos. The white-and-gold vanity had been overturned. Smashing glass covered the floor, and the scent of French perfume was overwhelming, mixed with the sharp, chemical smell of the destroyed German vials.
But Victoria wasn't there.
The French doors leading out to the master balcony were wide open, rain pouring into the room, soaking the expensive silk curtains.
“She’s heading for the garage!” Thomas yelled, looking over the balcony railing into the stormy courtyard below. He could see a white figure rushing across the wet cobblestones toward the detached multi-car garage where Richard’s fleet of luxury vehicles was kept.
“I’ll go after her! You check on Luna!” Thomas ordered, rushing toward the back stairwell that led directly to the garage complex.
Julia didn't hesitate. She ran back to Luna’s lavender bedroom. The door was locked from the inside, just as she had instructed.
“Luna! It’s Julia! Open the door, sweetheart, the bad monster is gone. You’re safe!”
A moment later, the lock clicked. The door opened, and Luna stood there, tears streaming down her pale cheeks. She threw her little arms around Julia’s waist, burying her face into Julia’s wet clothes.
“She killed my mommy,” Luna sobbed, her little voice breaking Julia’s heart. “She told me if I told Daddy, she would make Daddy go to sleep forever too.”
Julia scooped the fragile little girl up into her arms, holding her tight, feeling a fierce, maternal protective rage wash over her. “She will never, ever touch you again, Luna. I promise you. The truth is out.”
Down in the courtyard, the roar of a powerful engine cut through the thunder. Victoria had managed to get into one of the sports cars. But Thomas was already at the garage gates, activating the heavy, iron security barrier.
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Victoria smashed the accelerator, intending to ram through, but the wet cobblestones caused the car to fishtail violently. The sports car spun out of control, crashing heavily into the stone fountain in the center of the courtyard. The airbags deployed with a loud bang, and smoke began pouring from the crumpled hood.
Thomas rushed forward, breaking the driver-side window with his flashlight, pulling a dazed, bleeding, and defeated Victoria from the wreckage just as the distant wail of police sirens began to echo up the mountain road.
