I screamed, panic rising in my chest. “Help! Somebody, help!”
His laugh was cold and detached. “Scream all you want. No one's coming. After that explosion, everyone’s too busy running for their lives. You’re stuck with me now.”
“What do you want from me?” I demanded, my voice trembling. “Are you going to kill me?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Kill you? No. I need an alibi.”
I felt my stomach twist in horror. “No. I won’t be a part of whatever this is!”
“You think you have a choice?” He tightened his grip. “You saw too much. You're not leaving until I’m done with you.”
Fury replaced my fear as I met his gaze. “Do you even know who I am? If you did, you’d think twice before using me.”
His smirk deepened. “Miss Tracie Whitaker, Europe’s wealthiest heiress.”
A cold shiver ran down my spine. How did he know?
“I’ve had my eye on you for a while,” he said. “And now you’re mine.”
Before I could reply, the door burst open, and a new figure entered—a lean man with a grim expression. “Boss, the elevator’s working. We need to move. The helicopter’s out, and the police are swarming.”
Bobbie, so that was his name, nodded. “We’ll blend with the crowd. Stick to the plan.”
He dragged me into the elevator, his men flanking us. As the doors shut, he leaned in close, his voice a quiet whisper. “Perfect crime. No one will ever tie me to this.”
“You have a witness,” I spat. “Me.”
His smirk didn’t falter. “Oh, but you wouldn’t risk your family’s reputation, would you, Miss Whitaker?”
I stiffened, glaring at him. “Why did you kill Penny? What’s your real goal here?”
He answered simply, “Justice. Do you know how many families he ruined with his scams? He got what he deserved.”
“And that justifies murder?” I snapped.
“There’s no justice in this world,” he said coldly. “Not for the poor, anyway.”
The elevator doors opened to chaos. The lobby was a scene of frantic police officers, terrified guests running in every direction, and bloodied security guards sprawled across the floor.
Bobbie tightened his grip on my arm as we navigated the madness. My mind raced, searching for a way out.
Then I saw him—Daniel. He stood protectively by Ginger, his arm around her. Her face was pale, but when her eyes found me, her expression twisted into one of fury.
“That’s her!” Ginger screamed, pointing at me. “She did this! She’s the one who killed Penny!”
My mouth dropped open in shock. “What?” I gasped.