Chapter 9 - The Chapel Confession

Sebastian aimed the gun at Beatrice’s chest.

“Ledger.”

She held it against her side.

“You killed my brother.”

“He made a poor decision.”

“He copied a video.”

“He believed truth protected people.”

“And you believe fear does.”

Sebastian smiled.

“Fear has a better record.”

Beatrice heard nothing from the corridor.

The chapel walls were thick.

That was the point.

Sebastian gestured toward the altar.

“Put it down.”

She obeyed this time.

Slowly.

“Slide it.”

“No.”

His eyes narrowed.

“You’re not very good at being afraid.”

“I’m excellent at it.”

“Then act accordingly.”

“I spent four years making myself smaller in rooms full of people like you.”

He laughed.

“I am not like them.”

“No. They were rude. You’re a murderer.”

His finger tightened on the trigger.

Beatrice’s heartbeat thundered.

A tiny transmitter was taped beneath the ledger’s back cover.

Every word went to Grace Holloway.

If the signal worked.

If Sebastian had not jammed it.

If Leo had not already broken down the door.

Sebastian walked closer.

“You know what Daniel’s mistake was?”

“Trusting Dr. Hale?”

“Trusting Mateo.”

Beatrice kept her face still.

“Mateo didn’t know.”

“Mateo always knew more than he admitted.”

“That sounds like jealousy.”

Sebastian smiled.

“You think he is loyal to Leo?”

“Yes.”

“You are sentimental.”

“No. I watched him kill his own brother to save Lily.”

For the first time, Sebastian’s expression shifted.

“Rafael is dead?”

“You didn’t know.”

He recovered quickly.

“Rafael was always disposable.”

The cruelty was effortless.

Beatrice said, “You ordered him to kill Lily.”

“I ordered him to remove a liability.”

“She is six.”

“She is Elena’s daughter.”

“And that was enough?”

“Elena almost destroyed everything.”

“You mean she almost exposed you.”

“Same result.”

Behind the wall, something scraped.

Sebastian heard it.

His gun moved toward the door.

Beatrice spoke quickly.

“Richard is talking.”

Sebastian looked back.

“What?”

“He told federal prosecutors you’re alive.”

A flicker of fury.

“He would not.”

“He already did.”

“You’re lying.”

“Ask him.”

Sebastian reached for his phone.

No signal.

He frowned.

Beatrice smiled.

“Funny.”

“What?”

“Dead zones are inconvenient.”

His gaze sharpened.

“You set this up.”

“No.”

“You?”

She laughed.

“The maid?”

The insult worked exactly as she hoped.

Sebastian’s face tightened.

He stepped toward her.

“You think being underestimated makes you clever.”

“No. It makes you lucky.”

He reached for the ledger.

Beatrice grabbed the brass candle stand.

She swung.

It hit his wrist.

The gun fired.

The shot tore into the ceiling.

The chapel door exploded inward.

Leo entered first.

Mateo behind him.

Sebastian grabbed Beatrice and dragged her against his chest.

The gun pressed under her jaw.

Leo stopped.

“Let her go.”

Sebastian smiled.

“There you are.”

Mateo aimed carefully.

“Move the gun.”

“Hello, Mateo.”

Mateo’s face hardened.

“You used my brother.”

“Your brother volunteered.”

“You lied to him.”

“I paid him.”

“You turned him against his family.”

“Rafael turned himself.”

Mateo’s hands remained steady.

Beatrice felt Sebastian’s breathing against her hair.

Leo said, “You want the ledger. Take it.”

“I already have what I want.”

“What?”

Sebastian looked at him.

“You afraid.”

Leo’s eyes did not leave Beatrice.

“You killed Elena.”

“Yes.”

The word landed like a gunshot.

Leo’s face changed.

Mateo whispered, “We have it.”

Sebastian heard.

His expression shifted.

“What?”

Beatrice smiled.

“Furniture records things now.”

Sebastian slammed the gun harder against her jaw.

“You wired the ledger.”

“Maybe.”

“You stupid woman.”

“People keep calling me that right before they lose.”

He dragged her backward toward a side door.

Leo stepped forward.

Sebastian fired.

The bullet hit stone near Leo’s shoulder.

Beatrice drove her heel down on Sebastian’s foot.

He grunted.

She dropped her weight.

For years, she had been taught to hate the size of her body.

Now she used every pound of it.

Sebastian lost balance.

Beatrice twisted away.

Mateo fired.

The bullet struck Sebastian’s gun hand.

The weapon fell.

Leo crossed the distance in two steps and hit Sebastian hard enough to send him against the altar.

He hit him again.

And again.

“Leo!”

Beatrice grabbed his arm.

He turned, wild-eyed.

“He killed Elena.”

“I know.”

“He tried to kill Lily.”

“I know.”

“He killed Daniel.”

“I know.”

Leo looked at Sebastian on the floor.

Blood ran from the man’s mouth.

Beatrice tightened her grip.

“Do not give him the ending he wants.”

Leo’s chest heaved.

Sebastian laughed weakly.

“She thinks she changed you.”

Leo looked down.

“No.”

He stepped back.

“Elena did.”

Grace Holloway entered with federal agents.

“Sebastian Vale, do not move.”

Sebastian’s laugh disappeared.

Agents cuffed him.

Holloway looked at Beatrice.

“Your transmitter worked.”

Beatrice exhaled.

“Good.”

“Your blood pressure probably didn’t.”

“That feels accurate.”

Mateo lowered his weapon.

Then his knees buckled.

Leo caught him.

“Mateo?”

Blood spread across Mateo’s shirt.

Beatrice stared.

“When?”

“Ricochet,” Mateo said through clenched teeth.

Beatrice dropped beside him.

“Pressure.”

Leo tore off his tie and pressed it to the wound.

“Stay with me.”

Mateo managed a weak smile.

“Quiet yelling.”

Leo’s face twisted.

“Shut up.”

“That’s regular yelling.”

Beatrice laughed and cried at the same time.

Paramedics rushed in.

Holloway stood over Sebastian.

“You are being arrested for conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, racketeering, weapons trafficking, and enough additional charges that I’ll save paper by finishing downtown.”

Sebastian looked at Leo.

“You think this ends anything?”

Leo stood.

“It ends you.”

Richard Kensington appeared at the chapel entrance between two agents.

His face had aged ten years in an hour.

Sebastian stared.

“Richard.”

Richard looked at him with hatred.

“You killed her.”

Sebastian smiled.

“You paid for the first bomb.”

Richard flinched.

Holloway turned to him.

“Thank you both. This is becoming efficient.”

Richard looked at Leo.

“I did not order Elena killed.”

“You ordered her terrorized.”

“I wanted the ledger.”

“You used my wife.”

Richard’s voice broke.

“I thought it would frighten her.”

Leo stepped closer.

“Fear is not innocence.”

Richard lowered his eyes.

Agents took him away.

Beatrice watched.

“So that’s it?”

Holloway shook her head.

“That is the beginning of the legal part.”

“Which means?”

“Months. Probably years.”

“Wonderful.”

“You wanted truth.”

“I did not realize truth had paperwork.”

Holloway almost smiled.

“It always does.”

A paramedic called from the hall.

“Mr. Calder is stable.”

Leo closed his eyes.

Beatrice touched his arm.

“Go.”

“What?”

“Ride with Mateo.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“I am surrounded by federal agents.”

“That is not automatically comforting.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“No.”

“Leo.”

He looked at her.

The first time she had used his name, he had been too shattered to notice.

Now he noticed.

So did she.

“Lily needs to see you,” Beatrice said. “Mateo needs you. Go.”

He stepped closer.

“And you?”

“I’m going to finish my statement.”

“That can wait.”

“Apparently truth has paperwork.”

He almost smiled.

Then his expression changed.

“I was going to ask you something before the gala.”

“I remember.”

“I’m still not asking tonight.”

“Why?”

“Because you were just held at gunpoint.”

“Reasonable.”

“And because I want your answer when you are free to say no.”

Beatrice’s chest tightened.

“Free?”

“Not my employee. Not in debt to me. Not protecting Lily. Just you.”

She stared at him.

“That sounds suspiciously respectful.”

“I’m trying it.”

“How does it feel?”

“Terrible.”

She laughed.

He touched her cheek, carefully avoiding the healing cut.

His hand trembled.

Beatrice leaned into it for one second.

Then Leo left with the paramedics.

The chapel emptied slowly.

Holloway took the ledger into evidence.

Agents collected the transmitter.

Sebastian was gone.

Richard was gone.

Beatrice stood alone near the altar where she had placed the book.

A woman in a housekeeping uniform entered carrying a broom.

She stopped when she saw the blood and broken stone.

“Oh.”

Beatrice looked at her.

The woman was middle-aged, tired, and already apologizing with her posture.

“Sorry, ma’am. I can come back.”

Beatrice felt something inside her shift.

“No.”

She stepped aside.

“You don’t have to apologize.”

The woman looked surprised.

Beatrice smiled.

“None of this is your mess.”

At the hospital, Mateo needed surgery but not a miracle.

The bullet had missed major vessels.

Lily sat in Leo’s lap in the waiting room, wrapped in a blanket.

When Beatrice arrived, Lily ran to her.

“Bee!”

Beatrice caught her.

Carefully this time.

“You’re okay?”

“I’m okay.”

“Daddy said bad Sebastian got arrested.”

Leo glanced at Beatrice.

“I simplified.”

“Good.”

Lily whispered, “Did Mama win?”

The question broke something open in the room.

Leo crouched beside her.

“Your mama told the truth when it was dangerous.”

“Did she win?”

He looked at Beatrice.

Then at his daughter.

“Yes.”

Lily thought about it.

“Daniel too?”

Beatrice’s eyes filled.

“Yes.”

“Mateo?”

“Mateo is working on it.”

Lily nodded solemnly.

Then she held Bunny up.

“Bunny helped.”

Beatrice laughed through tears.

“Bunny was essential.”

Leo wrapped one arm around Lily and looked at Beatrice.

The war was not over.

Trials remained.

Names remained.

An empire still had to answer for what it had become.

But the secret that had ruled their lives was no longer hidden.

Elena had found the truth.

Daniel had preserved it.

Lily had protected the key.

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Beatrice had carried it into the light.

And Leo, finally, had chosen not to answer grief with another grave.