Chapter 4 - The Viper's Trap
"Help you?" Maeve asked, rising from her chair. "Why would you trust me? I lied to you from the moment I walked into your house!"
"You lied to survive," Elias replied, taking a step toward her. "Sienna lied out of greed. There is a vast difference. You stood in front of two armed hitmen to protect a man you believed was completely helpless. You have more courage in your little finger than the entire Ashford family has in their ancestral bloodline."
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a sleek black smartphone, sliding it across the glass table toward her.
"What is this?" Maeve asked carefully.
"Your brother's medical bills have been paid in full," Elias said flatly. "I had my accountants wire the funds directly to St. Jude’s hospital an hour ago. The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning, performed by the top chief of surgery in the state."
Maeve gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Relief rushed through her so violently that her knees buckled slightly. She caught herself on the back of the armchair, staring at Elias in utter disbelief. "Why... why would you do that?"
"Because in my world, loyalty and sacrifice are rare commodities," Elias said, his voice softening just a fraction. "You offered your life to save mine. I ensure your brother lives. The balance is settled. Now, we make a new deal."
"What kind of deal?"
"You continue to play the role of Sienna Ashford," Elias explained, his dark eyes flashing with calculating brilliance. "Margaret and her co-conspirators believe their plan is moving forward smoothly. They think I am a cripple trapped in a house with a scared girl. We will let them believe it. At the grand gala this Saturday, where the Ashfords plan to execute the final phase of their corporate takeover, you will walk in by my side."
Maeve looked at the phone, then back at Elias. She was a simple housekeeper caught in a deadly storm of high-society crime, but standing in front of Elias Marchetti, she felt a strange, inexplicable sense of safety. He was a monster to the rest of the world, but to her, he was the only person who had ever treated her sacrifice with respect.
"And when it's over?" Maeve asked softly. "What happens to me when the Ashfords are exposed?"
Elias stepped closer, reaching out to gently touch the edge of her chin, tilting her face up to meet his intense gaze.
"When it's over, Maeve... you will no longer be a pawn. You will be free. Or, if you choose... you can remain the true queen of the Marchetti empire."
May you like
Maeve’s heart skipped a beat, a sudden, unfamiliar heat blooming in her chest. Before she could answer, the door swung open, and Mateo stepped inside, his expression dark and tense.
"Boss," Mateo said, glancing nervously at Maeve. "We have a problem. Don Moretti just crossed into the city limits. And he brought Sienna Ashford with him."
