Chapter Ninety-Nine: Ambush: The Unveiling Interrupted
Chapter Ninety-Nine: Ambush: The Unveiling Interrupted
ANNA SERRANO
"The photographers are ready?" I asked.
"Ready and positioned exactly where we discussed," Sherry assured me. "The moment you remove that mask, they'll capture every angle. By tomorrow morning, your face will be on every fashion blog, society page, and business publication in the country."
By tomorrow morning, everyone will know, I thought, a thrill of anticipation running through me.
The makeup artist finished with a final dusting of setting powder and stepped back. "All done with makeup, Ms. Serrano."
The hairstylist immediately moved in, beginning to arrange my hair in an elegant updo that would showcase the dramatic back of the dress while keeping the focus on my face for the big reveal.
Minutes ticked by as they worked. Someone brought in the mask I'd chosen, an exquisite creation of black lace and tiny crystals that covered the upper half of my face while leaving my lips visible. It was beautiful enough to be a piece of art on its own, which was exactly the point.
Finally, after what felt like both an eternity and mere seconds, the stylist stepped back.
"We're finished, Ms. Serrano."
I stood from the chair and turned to face the full-length mirror, and my breath caught slightly.
The woman looking back at me was powerful, elegant, untouchable. The dress fit perfectly, the makeup enhanced rather than concealed, the hairstyle sophisticated and modern. I looked like exactly what I was about to become in the public eye: a force to be reckoned with.
"Perfect," Sherry breathed beside me. "Anna, you're absolutely perfect."
I turned to her, squeezing her hand. "We did this together. None of this would exist without you."
"Stop, you're going to make me cry and ruin my makeup," Sherry said, but she was smiling widely. "Come on. Let's go make history."
We made our way carefully down the grand staircase, me holding the banister to keep my balance in the dramatic heels, Sherry beside me carrying the mask and my small clutch.
Outside, a sleek black car waited with its engine running. This wasn't just any vehicle, it was armored, bulletproof, with tinted windows that made it impossible to see inside. Security measures that Mother Serrano had insisted on, given my increasingly public profile and the enemies I'd made.
Behind our car, I could see the five security vehicles that would escort us to the venue, additional precautions that seemed excessive to me but that Alexander and Mother had both insisted were necessary.
Better safe than sorry, Alexander had said when I'd protested the security detail. You're about to put yourself in the spotlight in a major way. That makes you a target.
I settled into the back seat, Sherry sliding in beside me. The leather was cool and smooth, and the car's interior smelled faintly of expensive upholstery and the subtle floral air freshener Sherry preferred.
"Everyone we invited is already at the party," Sherry said, checking her phone again for updates. "The atmosphere is electric, people are buzzing with speculation about who's behind BelleNova. The reporters are positioned around the venue and outside. This is going to be covered by every major publication."
I nodded, feeling that mixture of excitement and nervousness intensify. "So this is really happening. My company is going official tonight."
"It's really happening," Sherry confirmed with a grin.
I squeezed her hand, unable to contain my excitement any longer. "We did it, Sherry. We actually—"
The car suddenly lurched forward with a violent screech of brakes, throwing both of us against our seatbelts.
"Ahhh!" Sherry and I screamed simultaneously.
The momentum threw us forward, then back as the driver slammed the brakes, bringing us to a complete, jarring stop.
"What just happened?" Sherry demanded, her voice high with alarm.
My heart was pounding, adrenaline flooding my system as I straightened in my seat and looked through the windshield to see what had caused the sudden stop.
Three black SUVs had pulled across the road directly in front of us, completely blocking our path. The vehicles were large, aggressive-looking, with dark tinted windows that revealed nothing about who was inside.
As I watched, the doors of all three SUVs opened simultaneously, and men began emerging, large, heavily built men dressed in dark clothes.
And they were armed.
"Ma'am, stay in the car!" our driver shouted, his voice tight with urgency. "We have a situation. Do not exit the vehicle under any circumstances!"
Before I could even process what was happening, I heard it: the distinctive, terrifying sound of gunfire.
The attackers had opened fire on our car.
But they hadn't anticipated our security detail.
I saw our driver's hand move quickly to press an emergency button on the dashboard, a panic signal that would alert our security vehicles following at a distance. Within seconds, the five cars that had been trailing us at a respectful distance suddenly accelerated, engines roaring as they closed the gap.
Our security team poured out of their vehicles with practiced efficiency, taking up defensive positions and returning fire.
"Get down!" Sherry grabbed my arm and pulled me down below the window line. "Stay down, Anna!"
We pressed ourselves as flat as possible against the back seat, my elegant dress crushed beneath me, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might break through my ribcage.
Outside, the sounds of gunfire continued, sharp cracks that made me flinch with each report, even though I knew our car was armored and bulletproof.
But as I lay there, pressed against the leather seats with Sherry trembling beside me, my hand moved instinctively to the hidden pocket sewn into the inner lining of my dress.
My fingers closed around the small, lightweight pistol I'd insisted on carrying tonight despite Sherry's protests that it would ruin the line of the dress.
Thank God I didn't listen to her, I thought grimly.
I knew how to use this weapon. Mother Serrano had made sure I was trained extensively after I'd joined the family, hours at the shooting range, self-defense classes, tactical training that had seemed paranoid at the time but that I was suddenly, desperately grateful for.
If anyone managed to breach our car, if our security team was somehow overwhelmed, I would defend myself and Sherry.
I would not go down without a fight.
Not tonight. Not ever again.