19. Revelations Unfold Emelia
Chapter nineteen
Revelations Unfold Emelia
E melia
My lungs burned as I sprinted down the alley, glancing back to ensure I'd lost my pursuers.
The city streets were a maze, but I navigated by instinct alone until the familiar facade of our building came into view.
Safe inside, I hurried toward the elevator. The security personnel on duty stepped up to me, giving me a close run-over.
“Is everything alright, Ms. Emelia?”
I nodded, refusing to look at him, hoping my usual cold shoulder would turn him off.
But the gentlemanly middle-aged lobby security leaned against the wall beside me with a kind smile.
“You look very tired, Ms. Emelia.”
I nodded. Mark was a nice man and I could make an attempt to be friendlier.
“It’s been a long day,” I murmured apologetically.
Finally, the elevator doors slid open. I stepped in.
“Yes, I’m sure it’s been. Take care, Ms. Emelia. The hallway’s still soaked on your floor. Had some intruders come in earlier. Don’t know how they slipped by me. Police come and gone already.”
My hand flew to stop the door from closing.
“Was anyone arrested?”
“Uh-uh. No sign of any intruders.” He scratched his stark white afro curls.
“Just be careful, Ms. Emelia.”
I let the elevator doors swish close. Intruders? My floor? Heart racing, I counted the numbers until the elevator came to a stop on my floor.
Walking carefully around the uniformed janitor blow drying soaked carpeting, I went through the motion of inputting the passwords, then the eye and fingerprint sensor.
I glanced back at the janitor, but he was busy and didn’t give me more than a brief glance.
I stepped in, then made sure the apartment was secure. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
"Lucas?" I called out. No response. I wasn’t sure if it was Lucas who Mark referred to when he mentioned intruders or if Dvorak had sent his men.
Lucas never used the lobby, but certainly something must have happened to trip off the sprinklers and have the police arrive here.
I pulled out my phone. Nothing from Lucas. I started to type a message then I realized how dangerous that would be.
If Lucas had been captured, any contact from me would only expose both of us.
I sighed and put the phone back in my pocket.
If they took Lucas, where could they have taken him?
I ran to the safe where we’d kept the painting and the artifact. The artifact was gone.
Did they make Lucas come back here and give them the artifact? Were Lucas and Dvorak’s men the intruders? Had Lucas managed to get away?
“Where are you, Lucas?”
Anger and fear warred within me. I had to find Lucas before anyone hurt him.
But I was completely alone now, cut off from allies. There was no way the police weren’t deeply entrenched with Dvorak's network—and I had no way of knowing who I could trust.
I’d trained myself for years, but then being with Lucas had taught me so well—and it was time to put those skills to use.
Right now, I had no one but myself.
I got to work hacking into the city's CCTV system, scanning facial recognition software for Lucas or any of the bad men.
Seven different cameras tracked Lucas’ escape after the ambush at the cafe until he followed me down the alley and was captured by the goons. Then the unmarked van's route. I was gaining ground.
With my security system, there was no way anyone was getting into my apartment without Lucas, so he must have moved the artifact for some reason. I only hoped Dvorak hadn’t forced him to hand it over.
As I combed through footage from traffic cameras, one video caught my eye—an armored diplomatic vehicle pulling into Dvorak's mansion. The timestamp was shortly after Lucas was captured.
I zoomed in on the footage and caught a clear image of the passenger: Senator Grey. My blood turned to ice. If Grey was personally involved, this went beyond Dvorak to the highest levels.
The truth became clear—powerful people were tied to this conspiracy and desperately wanted to retain the artifact.
They had used Bruno to do their dirty work, while keeping their own hands clean.
But we had stolen the artifact from Bruno. If they had it all along, why didn’t they just use it?
Unless they couldn’t use it without the painting. That’s why Bruno wanted the painting so badly.
With whatever leverage they had, they hoped to tie up the final loose end by recovering the artifact and the painting.
I delved deeper, unearthing encrypted memos detailing plans to suppress evidence and cover up murders. My father had been a loose end they’d trimmed.
There was no way Lucas and I were going to be left alive.
Tears stung my eyes as I uncovered the full, sordid conspiracy—decades of shady backroom deals, blackmail, and eliminating threats.
So much sacrifice to keep this web of lies spinning undetected.
But the deception ended here. Being at Dvorak’s now implicated the Senator.
I had to get it back—with it, the painting, the treasure trove and Lucas’ testimony, we could expose the truth. But first, I needed to find Lucas.
Wiping my eyes, I steeled myself. Lucas had risked everything for me. Now, I would stop at nothing to save him.
The next move was clear—confront Dvorak. Tonight.
Adrenaline coursing through me, I slammed the car into park outside Dvorak's sprawling mansion.
My heart pounded as gravel protested under my tires as I ripped the car sideways to a swerving stop in front of Dvorak's iron gates.
Four figures materialized from the shadows, guns trained on me like accusing fingers.
My stomach lurched, an unwelcome cocktail of adrenaline and fear, but I slammed the door shut with a metallic clang, the sound echoing the resolve hardening in my chest.
"On your knees!" barked one, his voice tight with aggression.
My eyes swept over them—tense stances, jittery fingers on triggers. One was younger, barely out of his teens, sweat glistening on his brow. Another, scarred and gruff, held a shotgun leveled at my chest.
Silence stretched, thick and heavy. Then, from one of them, a surprised gasp. "It's Emelia Price," he breathed, the gun wavering slightly.
He relayed the information into a walkie-talkie clipped to his shoulder, his voice tight.
A beat, then static crackled in response, followed by a single, curt order: "Let her in."
Their guns remained trained on me as the gates swung open with a groan, revealing a path bathed in harsh security lights.
I stepped out, boots crunching on the gravel, heart hammering a fierce rhythm against my ribs as I entered the building.
"Dvorak!" I shouted, my voice echoing across the marble foyer. "Show yourself!"
At the top of the grand staircase, Dvorak emerged, looking as unruffled as always. He raised an eyebrow. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Evelyn?"
I marched up the steps until I was eye to eye with him. "You know damn well. I’ve come to take you in for murdering my father and Lucas’ parents!"
Bruno sighed as if bored. "Your father got in over his head. His assassination, and the death of Lucas’ parents was unfortunate but necessary."
"Necessary?" I seethed. "He uncovered the truth about your criminal enterprise. That's the only reason he was killed!"
"Come now, this is bigger than you or me," Dvorak said calmly. "We were members of the same sect. Our fathers before us. The painting was waiting patiently for the foretold date to fulfill its destiny and make us all-powerful. We would rule the world forever. But your father began to question things and, in the end, chose a noble but foolish crusade trying to stop things beyond his control. I'd advise you not to make the same mistake."
I stepped closer, glaring into his cold eyes. "Or what? You'll have me killed like you did him? I know Senator Grey is involved in this too. Is he the one that ordered their death?"
For a split second, Dvorak looked rattled, but his smooth veneer returned instantly. "You have no idea what you're tampering with. I'd tread carefully, for your own good."
"Where's Lucas?" I demanded. "Release him now!"
Bruno chuckled mirthlessly. "I'm afraid your dear Lucas is not in my custody. But he'll soon be back in my grasp, now that you've so helpfully revealed yourself."
Icy fear trickled down my spine. I’d made a mistake. Lucas wasn’t here. Still, I stood tall. "If you hurt him, I swear I'll—"
Dvorak snapped his fingers. His men seized me by both arms, wrenching me backwards. I screamed and thrashed wildly. As one goon pushed me down, I cried out, "Please, don’t hurt my baby!"
The goons froze and the room became deathly quiet.
Dvorak’s sick sounding laughter filled the room. His eyes flashed with sinister delight.
“Oh, what have we here, then?”
The laughter died just as suddenly as it had begun. He leaned down and whispered coldly, "Then I suggest you convince Lucas to turn himself in. Unless you want your child to suffer the same fate as your foolhardy father."
“I will never place Lucas in harm’s way.” I lifted my chin high.
Dvorak contemplated me for a long minute.
“No matter. There are several ways a bird can be killed.”
He flicked his wrist. “Lock her up.”
The thugs dragged me down the stairs to a cellar prison. When they flung me inside the cell, I collapsed to my knees, shaking with fear.
What had I done? Such a foolish, stupid mistake. Dvorak's threat against my unborn child echoed in my mind. I had to find a way to protect the innocent life inside me. But I was trapped, utterly alone.
Time crawled by as I paced the small cell frantically. Lucas was still out there somewhere, in danger.
Suddenly, voices and footsteps sounded on the stairs. My heart seized—were they here to kill me and my baby?
The door creaked open, before two guards shoved a figure inside. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, joy cut through my dread—it was Lucas!
"Lucas!" I cried, rushing into his arms. "But how...?"
"I gave myself up so you and the baby can be safe." Lucas explained, holding me close. His jaw was clenched, eyes hard with fury.
"Are you alright?" He searched my face anxiously. I nodded, clinging to him desperately.
Lucas’ jaw tightened. "This is it for us.” He frantically searched the walls and ran his hand over the door. Shaking his head, he muttered, “No way out this time."
Tears flooded my eyes. I placed a protective hand over my belly. Lucas’ expression hardened with resolve.
"Listen to me," he urged. "When they come in to take us, I’ll do whatever I can to distract them from you. If you get any chance to escape, you run. Don't look back, just save our child."
I grabbed Lucas, shaking my head fervently. "I won't leave you!"
Lucas grasped my shoulders, adamant. "You have to try, for the baby's sake. I’m not sure we can all make it out this time." His voice broke on the words.
Seeing the torment in his eyes, I finally nodded, then pulled him close for a searing kiss.
We stayed locked in a fierce embrace until footsteps sounded outside.
"I love you," I breathed. Lucas stroked my cheek one last time as the locks disengaged.
“I love you too, Evelyn. Remember, do your best to save our baby. I’ll push him to the wall, and you run.”
I nodded, tears racing down my face at the thought that I might lose Lucas for good.
I tensed as the cell door opened, bracing for Dvorak's men to take one or both of us away. Lucas braced himself to attack, but instead of thugs, a lone man slipped inside.
There was nothing aggressive about his body language. "Shhh, don't make a sound," he whispered, holding up a hand. "I'm Agent Pierce, deep undercover. The FBI has been building a case against Dvorak for months. Bruno’s trail led us to him, and after his death, we continued to keep an eye on Dvorak."
Lucas and I exchanged stunned looks.
"You got into our radar shortly before Bruno was murdered. We know about your parents’ death, too. I’m getting both of you out, but we need to move quickly, before the next patrol comes through," Pierce urged quietly. "Follow my lead, don't make a sound."
Numb with disbelief, Lucas and I nodded and rose to our feet. This was our first stroke of luck after endless torment.
Silently, we followed Pierce out into the dim corridors. My legs shook, expecting Dvorak's guards to descend any moment. But Pierce expertly navigated the maze.
"Hurry, let's move." Agent Pierce led us across the mansion grounds toward the front gate.
Lucas gripped my hand tightly, prepared to bolt at the first sign of trouble.
At the imposing gate secured with armed guards, Pierce grabbed both of us roughly by the arms, pretending to detain us against our will.
"Open up!" he shouted at the guards. "Got a couple of prisoners to transfer. Boss’s orders."
The guards looked puzzled, not having been informed of any transfers. But Pierce frowned menacingly at them.
"Hurry up, they're dangerous!" Pierce barked.
Finally, the guard keyed in the code and the heavy gate slid open. As soon as there was a gap wide enough to slip through, Pierce whispered, "Run!"
He shoved Lucas and I forward. We sprinted for the shadows of buildings across the street as shouts erupted behind us.
“Hey, they’re getting away.”
Gunshots rang out, bullets peppering the asphalt at our heels.
“They went this way,” We looked back to see Pierce diverting the guards toward another direction.
My heart hammered wildly as we ran. We scrambled over a fence and didn't look back until the mansion was out of sight.
I doubled over, gasping for breath. Lucas’ eyes met mine, equally incredulous.
Against all odds, we had escaped certain death once more.
Lucas’ hand found mine, gripping fiercely. Our love had given us strength to endure the deepest darkness.
Together, we would bring Dvorak, Grey and any other person's evil schemes crashing down.
30 minutes later, the taxi pulled up a few blocks from Lucas’ safe house.
My mind was spinning with the implications of a larger conspiracy at play.
As Lucas checked the perimeter, I told him my realization. "Bruno, and even Dvorak, are just puppets. Senator Grey is the true mastermind behind everything that’s been going on."
Lucas’ expression turned solemn. "You're right. When I was tracking your location, I overheard Dvorak talking about how to deliver the painting and artifact for their next meeting."
My eyes widened. "The sect my father belonged to—the ones he stole the painting and artifact from so they couldn’t use it to dominate the world..." I rifled through the documents from my father's stash and pulled out a cryptic memo. "Look—my father mentions meetings of ‘The Seeing Eye’!"
Lucas’ jaw tightened with determination. "And Dvorak and Grey mentioned meeting in Switzerland. I bet that’s where their next meeting will be.”
“Then that's our next move. We're going to Switzerland to stop ‘The Seeing Eye’ just like our parents planned to do."