Chapter 8 - THE CONFESSION
Kieran tackled Julian to the floor.
The gun clattered across the hardwood, spinning out of reach.
Julian thrashed wildly, his eyes burning, swinging a wild punch that caught Kieran in the jaw. Kieran tasted blood, but he didn't care. The adrenaline of protecting his daughter and the blinding rage of facing his wife’s killer fueled him.
He grabbed Julian by the collar and slammed his head hard against the floorboards.
Julian went limp, groaning in pain.
Kieran flipped him onto his stomach and pinned his arms behind his back.
“Annie, get the gun!” Kieran shouted.
Annie scrambled across the glass-covered floor, picking up the heavy pistol with shaking hands. She aimed it at Julian.
Kieran breathed heavily, staring down at the man who had destroyed his family.
He reached out and pulled the rest of the letter from his pocket.
“What is Miranda to you, Julian?” Kieran demanded, twisting Julian’s arm.
“Go to hell,” Julian spat, blood dripping from his nose.
Kieran twisted harder.
Julian cried out. “She’s my wife! Okay?! She’s my wife!”
Annie gasped.
Kieran stared at him in disgust. “You faked your death, left your wife with nothing, and then sent her to marry me to steal my fortune?”
“She didn't know I was alive at first,” Julian groaned. “When she found out, she was furious. But she loves money more than she hates me. I told her if she married you, she could inherit everything, and we could disappear together.”
“But she needed the watch,” Kieran realized, looking at the silver timepiece resting on the desk. “Why?”
“Because inside that watch is a micro-SD card,” Julian gritted out. “It has all my blackmail files. Every bank account, every offshore trust, every dirty secret of the Sterling family. With that card, I could rule this city.”
Suddenly, the dressing room door burst open.
Miranda stood there.
She had slipped her zip-ties. Her dress was torn, her makeup smeared, and her eyes were completely feral.
She saw Julian pinned to the floor.
She saw Annie holding the gun.
And she saw the silver watch on the desk.
Miranda didn't go for Kieran. She didn't go for Annie.
She sprinted out of the dressing room, straight toward the nursery.
“Flora!” Kieran screamed, letting go of Julian and scrambling to his feet.
He ran down the hallway, terror gripping his heart.
Miranda reached the nursery door.
She lunged inside, grabbing the sleepy six-year-old from the bed.
Flora screamed, terrifying and loud.
“Stay back!” Miranda shrieked, holding Flora in front of her like a shield. In her free hand, she held a jagged piece of broken glass from a shattered vase in the hallway. She held it inches from Flora’s throat.
Kieran stopped dead in his tracks. His hands went up.
“Miranda. Let her go. Please.” Kieran begged, tears filling his eyes. “Take the watch. Take whatever you want. Just don’t hurt my baby.”
Miranda laughed, backing toward the top of the grand staircase.
“You ruined everything, Kieran!” she screamed. “I suffered for years! I put up with this brat! I deserve that money!”
“You can have it,” Kieran pleaded, taking a slow step forward. “Just put the glass down.”
“Don’t come any closer!” Miranda yelled.
But Miranda didn't see Annie.
Annie had slipped out of the dressing room through the connecting Jack-and-Jill bathroom.
She stepped silently into the hallway behind Miranda.
Annie didn't hesitate.
She lunged forward, throwing her arms around Miranda’s waist and pulling her backward away from the stairs.
Miranda shrieked, dropping Flora.
Kieran dove forward, catching his daughter in his arms and shielding her body with his own.
Miranda spun around, screaming in rage.
She slashed wildly with the broken glass.
The glass caught Annie across the side of her neck and shoulder.
Annie gasped, stumbling backward against the wall, clutching her bleeding shoulder.
Before Miranda could strike again, Marcus and three police officers stormed up the stairs.
“Drop the weapon!” an officer roared, tackling Miranda to the ground.
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Kieran held Flora tight, looking up at Annie.
The young woman slid down the wall, blood seeping through her fingers.
