Chapter 041

Betrayal Unmasked

With the shot, the first echo rumbled through the restaurant, and the rest of the world fell away from Isabelle. The screams that suddenly filled the air—what had once been an elegant dining room turned into panic, pure and absolute chaos. She felt a vice grip on her arm, tugging her in the direction of the kitchen.

"Move!" Morris's voice was a knife through all the noise—knife-edged, sharp, commanding.

Instinct wrestled through Isabelle. Trust Morris? Run? Her gaze darted to Hawthorne. His face was twisted masquerade of rage. In that half second, she made her choice, allowing Morris to drag her through the panicked crowd.

The doors of the kitchen burst open when they stumbled inside. Staff who had been huddled in fear scattered from their paths. Morris didn't slow, tugging Isabelle toward the back exit.

"Morris, what's going on?" she panted, as she struggled to keep up with him.

"The operation's been blown," he panted back. "Somebody tipped Hawthorne. We aren't safe