Chapter 6 - The Traitors' Dinner
With Javier in federal custody, Carmen tried to mobilize her network of influential friends, city council members, and high-priced attorneys. She called a dinner at an exclusive, members-only club in Highland Park, inviting the six women who had helped her terrorize Sofia on her wedding night.
"We just need to stick to the story," Carmen told them, her voice tight as she poured the wine. "Sofia fell down the stairs at the reception. Javier tried to help her. It’s her word against ours. Seven against one."
The heavy oak doors of the private dining room swung open.
Alexander walked in, followed by Elena, who wore a sleek, dark suit, her face completely void of the fear she had felt two days ago. Behind them came a tech team carrying a portable projector and speaker system.
"What is the meaning of this?" Carmen shrieked, standing up. "This is a private club! Security!"
"The security handles my payroll now, Carmen," Alexander said calmly, nodding to his team. "Sit down."
The projector hummed to life, casting a massive, high-definition video onto the dining room wall. It wasn't a movie. It was the security footage from the hallway of the hotel suite from wedding night. The video clearly showed Javier standing outside the door, pacing, while the muffled sounds of Sofia’s screams echoed through the audio feed. It showed the six women in that room laughing as they walked out, wiping blood from their jewelry.
"This is illegal surveillance!" one of the women panicked, covering her face.
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"This is state's evidence," Elena said, her voice ringing with absolute, unshakeable triumph. "The hotel manager traded this footage for his own freedom after we found out he took a fifty-thousand-dollar bribe from Carmen to turn off the cameras inside the suite. Every single one of you is going to prison for felony assault and conspiracy."
Carmen looked at the video, then at Alexander's cold, merciless eyes. The designer jewelry around her neck suddenly felt like an iron collar.
