“Answer me,” the man demanded.
Startled by his command, Chloe bit her lip. Her silence prompted the man to press the barrel of his gun with more force against Sofie’s forehead.
Her fists clenched, Chloe finally managed to exclaim, “Yes! Adele is here!” Silently praying that Damien would understand her signal, her voice shook as she continued, “She must have been devastated by our sudden departure!”
“Is that so?” came Damien’s voice, his footsteps echoing ominously on the creaking walnut staircase. As the man aimed his pistol at the stairs, a gunshot rang out from behind Chloe.
“Miss…!”
The man fell silently to the floor, a bullet lodged in his heart. Sofie rushed toward Chloe, her face burning bright red. As Chloe cradled the child in her arms, she turned to see Damien holding a smoking gun in his hand.
“We are lucky that Richard’s rifle was loaded,” Damien remarked in a steady voice.
