She Whispered “There’s a Bomb” to the Ruthless Billionaire—What He Did Next Shocked Everyone!

Celeste Voss had always served tea in delicate cups and insisted on handwritten thank-you notes. She also owned three private airfields and a security company nobody could audit.

Adrian called her from a blocked number. “Aunt Celeste.”

“My darling boy.” Her voice came warm as fresh bread. “I've been worried sick. News reports say you attacked a police officer.”

“News reports also say the ballroom fire was accidental.”

“Reporters do get creative.”

“Where's Sophie?”

A long pause. Then a faint clink of porcelain.

“You've been spending time with the Bennett girl,” Celeste said. “She's a bad influence.”

“She has a name.”

“Most liabilities do.”

Adrian's jaw tightened. “I'm coming for the child.”

“Of course you are. You always were my dramatic one.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because your father built an empire and left it in the hands of two sentimental fools. I'm correcting his mistake.”

The line went dead.

Mara had heard every word. She stood by the truck's rear doors, gripping the handle until her knuckles paled.

“You loved her,” she said.

“I did.”

“That doesn't make her less guilty.”

“No,” he answered. “It makes it harder to remember where to aim.”

June's contact drove them to a public library. They used a computer far from the security cameras to access Celeste's foundation calendar. A private donor reception was scheduled for nine at the old conservatory. Among the catering vendors: Bennett Events.

Mara blinked. “That's the company I work for.”

“Your boss set you up?” Lucian asked.

“Or Celeste picked the vendor because she knew I'd be there.”

Mara thought of the emerald gown, a last-minute instruction from her supervisor that all hostesses wear green. “She wanted me visible.”

Adrian squeezed the bridge of his nose. “It was bait from the beginning.”

June pulled a floor plan onto the screen. Beneath the conservatory was an underground parking level and a freight elevator leading to a sealed records room.

Mara pointed to a small square at the edge of the plan. “And this?”

June zoomed in. Her face changed.