Chapter 240
Chapter 240:
“And?” Rose tilted her head, genuine confusion crossing her features. “Since when did you develop a conscience? Victoria Kane destroyed your family. Your brother killed himself because of her.”
“This is different,” Herod said, backing away from the table. “Business is business. This is…” He gestured at the television, where reporters were discussing the explosion. “This could kill people, Rose.”
Rose’s laugh was brittle, splitting the air like breaking glass. “Oh, Herod. My sweet, naive Herod.” She stepped closer to him, reaching up to brush her fingers along his jawline. “Did you think this was ever just about business? Camille has everything I should have had. Everything.” Her nails dug into his skin. “I want her to lose it all. I want her to watch it burn.”
Herod pulled away, his hand going to the small cuts her nails had left. “You promised we would destroy her reputation, force Victoria to cut ties with her. You said nothing about mass casualties.”
“Plans evolve,” Rose said with a shrug. “Besides, I arranged the bombing without you, and look…” She pointed to the television, now showing footage of a new explosion. “It worked perfectly.”
Herod stared at her, truly seeing her for the first time. The woman he’d once thought was a cunning partner with a justified grudge had disappeared. In her place stood someone unhinged, consumed by hatred.
“You’re insane,” he whispered.
Rose smiled, the expression cold and empty. “No, I’m determined. There’s a difference.” She turned back to her maps. “Now, for the main control center, I need you to…”
“I’m not doing this,” Herod interrupted, backing toward the door. “We’re done, Rose. This partnership is over.”
Rose went still, her back to him. When she spoke, her voice was soft, almost gentle. “You don’t want to do that, Herod.”
“Watch me.” He grabbed his jacket from the chair.
Rose turned slowly, and the look in her eyes made him freeze. “If you walk out that door, I’ll tell the FBI everything. How you helped plan the bombing. How you provided the explosives. How you hacked into their security systems.” She smiled. “Your fingerprints are all over this, darling.”
“You’re bluffing,” he said, but uncertainty crept into his voice.
“Am I?” She reached for her phone. “I’ve documented everything. Every meeting, every plan. I have recordings…” She held up the phone, showing him a screen full of audio files with timestamps. “I’ve always been careful, Herod. It’s how I’ve survived.”
Herod’s mind raced. Could he call her bluff? But what if she wasn’t bluffing? The evidence she claimed to have would send him to prison for decades.
“Why?” he asked, his voice hollow. “I thought we were in this together. I thought we…”
“Had something?” Rose finished for him, her voice mocking. “Oh, we did. It was fun while it lasted. But this was never about us, Herod. This has always been about Camille.” Her expression hardened. “She took everything from me. Everything. And now I’m going to take everything from her.”
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