Chapter 7 - The Trap is Set
Within ten minutes, the basement kitchen was surrounded by Alio’s personal security force. The unconscious supervisor was dragged away into an interrogation room beneath the estate garage, while Adeline sat at the kitchen table, her hands shaking as Birdie poured her a glass of cold water.
Alio arrived fifteen minutes later, rushing down the servant's stairs with Marco right behind him. He didn't look at his guards, nor did he look at the bloodstain on the floor. His eyes swept straight to Adeline.
He crouched down in front of her chair, grabbing her hands in his. "Did he touch you? Are you hurt?"
His voice wasn't calm this time. For the first time since Adeline had known him, Alio Vicaro sounded genuinely shaken.
"I'm fine," Adeline whispered, looking at their joined hands. "Birdie saved me."
Alio stood up, his jaw set so tightly the muscles quivered. He turned to Marco. "Where is the supervisor?"
"In the lower cellar, boss. He’s talking. He’s already admitted that Camille paid him fifty thousand dollars to sabotage the ladder and steal the safe combination."
Alio let out a cold, bitter breath. "She thought she could play games in my house. She thought she could endanger the people under my protection." He turned back to Adeline, his eyes burning with a dark, dangerous intensity. "It ends tonight."
"What are you going to do?" Adeline asked, fearing the violence that was bound to follow.
"Senator Thorne and Camille are hosting a charity gala at the Grand Imperial Hotel tonight," Alio said quietly. "They believe I am currently unaware of their treason. They believe Camille still has leverage over me."
He looked down at Adeline, his expression shifting into something remarkably soft. "I need your help one last time, Adeline. Will you trust me?"
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"With my life, sir," she answered without a second thought.
"Good. Because tonight, you are not coming to the hotel as a maid." Alio turned to Marco. "Call the court tailors. Get the black silk gown from the vault. Miss Vance is attending the gala as my guest."
