Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT
The attack happened during a private charity dinner at Hawthorne House.
Tessa was serving coffee when the lights went out.
The entire restaurant plunged into darkness.
Someone screamed.
A chair overturned.
Then a gunshot cracked through the dining room.
Tessa dropped behind the service counter.
Her heart pounded.
“Stay down!” someone shouted.
Emergency lights flickered on.
Roman stood near the doorway, directing guests toward the exits.
Grant, now cooperating with investigators, had warned Roman that Arthur might attempt to silence witnesses.
Security and police were already nearby.
But the attackers had chosen their moment carefully.
Tessa crawled toward the kitchen.
Then she heard a familiar voice.
“Miss Vaughn.”
She froze.
Malcolm Vane stood near the service corridor.
He held a gun.
“Come with me.”
Tessa's mouth went dry.
“No.”
Vane smiled.
“Your father was stubborn too.”
She looked toward the kitchen doors.
Too far.
Vane stepped closer.
“Move.”
Tessa rose slowly.
Then dropped the heavy coffee tray onto his wrist.
The gun struck the floor.
She ran.
Vane shouted.
A second shot shattered glass behind her.
Tessa reached the kitchen.
Then collided with Roman.
He caught her by the shoulders.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“Vane has a gun.”
Roman moved her behind him.
“Stay here.”
She grabbed his sleeve.
“Don't go after him alone.”
Roman looked at her.
For a moment, something unguarded crossed his face.
Then he nodded.
“I won't.”
Police entered through the service corridor.
Vane was arrested minutes later.
Two other armed men were detained.
No guests were killed, though several were treated for injuries sustained during the evacuation.
Outside, Tessa stood beneath the flashing emergency lights.
Her hands shook.
Roman approached.
“Are you okay?”
She laughed bitterly.
“That's becoming a difficult question.”
He nodded.
Then said:
“I was afraid I'd lost you.”
Tessa looked at him.
The words hung between them.
He continued quietly.
“I know I don't have the right to ask for anything from you.”
She swallowed.
“Roman.”
“But I need you to know something.”
“What?”
He looked into her eyes.
“You matter to me.”
Tessa's heart quickened.
May you like
For the first time, she didn't know whether to run.
Or stay.
