Chapter 10: The Serpent’s Gambit
The kiss lingered a second too long—enough for Katelyn to spot the flicker of movement in the balcony shadows. Greyson Voss wasn’t here to watch.
He was here to strike.
Vincent’s grip on her waist tightened imperceptibly, his lips brushing her ear. “He’s not alone.”
Katelyn’s hand slid discreetly to the dagger hidden in her wedding gown’s seams. “Let him make the first move.”
The priest cleared his throat awkwardly. “The rings, please?”
A hush fell over the crowd as Neil stepped forward, holding the velvet box. His jaw was clenched, his gaze darting toward the balcony—he’d seen them too.
Then—chaos.
A gunshot cracked, shattering the stained-glass window behind them.
Greyson’s voice boomed through a megaphone:
“Congratulations, Shadow. Now let’s see you dance.”
The Trap Sprung
Katelyn moved.
She yanked Vincent down as bullets rained over the altar, her dagger already airborne. It found its mark—a sniper tumbled from the balcony.
Lise was already hacking the venue’s security system, her fingers flying across a tablet. “They jammed our comms! Backup’s blind!”
Vincent pulled a pistol from his tuxedo jacket, firing three precise shots. “We need to flush Greyson out.”
Katelyn’s mind raced. This wasn’t just an attack—it was a performance. Greyson wanted witnesses. Wanted the world to see her bleed.
So she gave him a show.
She sprinted down the aisle, vaulting over pews as guests screamed. Another sniper took aim—
Neil tackled the gunman, his roar of pain echoing as a bullet grazed his shoulder.
Katelyn didn’t stop.
She reached the balcony stairs just as Greyson’s smug voice taunted over the megaphone:
“Looking for me?”
The Truth Unveiled
Greyson stood at the rooftop’s edge, his father’s serpent pin glinting in the sunlight. But he wasn’t holding a weapon.
He was holding a phone—live-streaming to every major news outlet.
“Say hello, Shadow.” He grinned. “Or should I call you sister?”
Katelyn froze.
Sister?
Vincent’s sharp inhale behind her confirmed it—this wasn’t a bluff.
Greyson tossed a DNA report at her feet. “Elias Voss was your father too. He groomed you, trained you, then faked his death when you betrayed him.” His smile turned vicious. “And now? I’m going to finish what he started.”
Katelyn’s world tilted.
All those years of training, the missions, the lies—
Family.
Vincent’s Choice
Vincent stepped forward, gun raised. “Enough.”
Greyson laughed. “Shoot me, and the world sees you murder an unarmed man. The mighty Vincent Laurent, monster.”
Katelyn’s hand closed around Vincent’s wrist. Not like this.
She met Greyson’s gaze. “What do you want?”
“The same thing you stole from us.” He pulled a flash drive from his pocket—the real Eclipse code. “Fight me for it. Just you and me. No weapons. No tricks.”
Vincent snarled. “Don’t—”
Katelyn was already stripping off her wedding veil.
“Let’s dance, brother.”
The Final Reckoning
The fight was brutal.
Greyson fought like his father—calculated, ruthless. Katelyn fought like herself—unpredictable, relentless.
Blow after blow, they matched each other, until Greyson yanked her to the rooftop’s edge.
“Join him in hell,” he hissed.
Katelyn twisted, using his momentum to flip him over her—
Greyson fell.
But not before smashing the flash drive onto the concrete.
The Eclipse code shattered with it.
Epilogue: The Queen’s Victory
One month later, Katelyn stood over Greyson’s grave. The media called it a tragic accident. She knew better.
Vincent joined her, his arm sliding around her waist. “The Syndicate’s gone. What now?”
She turned to him, the wind tugging at her hair. “Now?” She smirked. “We rule.”
Behind them, Neil and Lise waited by the car—no longer enemies, not quite allies.
A new game had begun.
And Katelyn always played to win.