Page 23 of Deadly Legacy (The House of Matvei #3)

Stepan moved instantly, positioning himself between Reuben and the door. Jacob and Anya rose from their seats, backing away from the table. Outside in the hallway, the heavy thud of running footsteps grew louder.

“What is happening?” Charlotte demanded, her voice rising. “Wallace, what have you done?”

“What I’ve always done,” Wallace replied bitterly. “Business. Only this time, I chose the wrong partner.”

Dmitrii’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. “You’ve betrayed me for the last time.”

“Your dealings always destroy my good name,” Charlotte hissed at her ex-husband, her social mask cracking under stress. “My husband’s campaign will be ruined by this—this mess you’ve created!”

The Quantize Guard founders were now on their feet, Mia attempting to edge toward the exit while Stephan and Drew remained frozen in shock.

“Charlotte,” Wallace said, his voice softening slightly, “you need to leave. Now. This isn’t a business meeting anymore.”

“She’s not going anywhere,” Dmitrii said, his hand moving inside his jacket. “No one is.”

Across the room, Stepan tapped two fingers against his cufflink. The prearranged signal for imminent threat.

Reuben lunged forward, his hand closing around Charlotte’s wrist. He yanked her sideways, away from Dmitrii, as the door burst open.

Security personnel flooded into the room. Handguns appeared, the metallic sounds of their deployment cutting through the sudden shouts.

“Get down!” Reuben’s voice sliced through the chaos.

The Quantize Guard founders dropped, bodies hitting the floor with dull thuds.

Dmitrii’s hand emerged from inside his jacket. A sleek pistol glinted under the lights. He leveled it at Reuben’s chest.

“Fuck you, Reuben.” His finger tensed against the trigger.

Stepan’s gun cracked, the bullet striking Dmitrii’s hand. But Dmitrii’s finger had already squeezed the trigger. Wallace lunged forward, throwing himself between Dmitrii and Reuben. “Enough!”

The gunshot was deafening in the enclosed space. Charlotte screamed as Wallace staggered, red blooming across his crisp white shirt. He collapsed against the conference table, knocking documents to the floor.

Stepan was already moving again, slamming Dmitrii’s wounded hand against the wall until the gun clattered to the floor. The sound of bone cracking mixed with Dmitrii’s guttural snarl of pain.

“Charlotte, come with me!” Reuben tugged at his mother’s arm. But she remained rooted to the spot, her body rigid, eyes expanding with horror.

The sound of breaking glass came from the conference room windows as Matvei security personnel rappelled into position. Reuben caught sight of Jacob and Anya herding the Quantize Guard founders toward a side door.

“This isn’t happening.” Charlotte’s voice emerged thin and breathless, her manicured hand flying to her throat. “Not to me.”

“Mom.” The quiet word drew her back. She blinked, focus returning to her eyes.

Two of Stepan’s security team moved in front of them, creating a shield from the chaos. Reuben took Charlotte’s arm, guiding her after them. Her high heels skidded on the polished floor, her face chalk-white.

“Wallace,” she whispered, her eyes fixed on her ex-husband’s crumpled form.

Reuben glanced back to see Stepan lifting Wallace with efficient care. “Stepan’s got him,” Reuben assured her.

In the hallway, Matvei security had created a corridor of protection. They followed the guards through it, the sounds of struggle fading behind them.

A black SUV waited at the curb, engine running. Reuben bundled Charlotte inside, then turned back toward the building.

“Where are you going?” Her voice was high, almost childlike in its panic.

“I need to make sure everyone got out safely.” Reuben glanced back toward the building where he’d last seen Stepan carrying Wallace.

“He shot Wallace,” Charlotte said, as if just processing this fact. “That man shot Wallace.”

Reuben nodded, hand already on the door handle. “I know. Just stay here. You’ll be safe.”

He found Stepan at the service entrance, Wallace now laid carefully on an improvised stretcher.

“How bad?” Reuben asked, falling into step beside them.

“Through-and-through. Left shoulder.” Stepan’s voice was clipped as they maneuvered toward the waiting van. “But he’ll live.”

“The founders?”

“Safe. Your team got them out the side entrance.”

As they loaded Wallace into the van, gunfire erupted from somewhere in the building.

“Dmitrii?” Reuben asked.

Stepan nodded grimly. “Making his escape. Our men have him pinned down on the third floor.”

“I’ll ride with him,” Reuben said, his pulse still racing from the gunfire, but Stepan shook his head.

“You look after your mother,” Stepan reminded him. “I’ve got this.”

Reuben hesitated, then nodded, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. These situations had become almost routine in his new life. But he knew Stepan was right—Wallace was in good hands.

When he returned to the SUV, Charlotte had composed herself, though her hands still trembled slightly in her lap.

“Is he...” She swallowed hard, unable to finish.

“He’ll live,” Reuben replied, sliding into the seat across from her, his own hands now steady. “The bullet missed any vital organs.”

Charlotte nodded, her eyes fixed on nothing. “That’s... good.” She fumbled with her purse, movements jerky and uncoordinated. “I need to call my husband’s office. Richard needs to know what happened before it hits the news.”

Her voice cracked on the last word, and she pressed her hand to her mouth. For a moment, Reuben saw past her facade to the genuine shock beneath.

“I can have someone take you home first,” he offered.

“No.” She shook her head, already reaching for her phone. “No, I need to manage this now. Richard’s state Senate campaign can’t afford a scandal.”

Reuben watched her struggling to maintain control, her breathing shallow and quick. “Charlotte, you’re in shock.”

“I’m fine,” she snapped, then glanced up at him properly for the first time. Her expression shifted, as if truly seeing him. “When did you start moving in these kinds of circles?”

“Things change.” Reuben met her gaze steadily.

“You handle yourself differently now.” Her eyes narrowed, studying him with new awareness and something like accusation.

“I grew up.” Reuben kept his voice neutral.

“Yes,” she said slowly. “Into someone I don’t recognize at all.” She looked him over the way she might assess a new arrival at one of her social gatherings.

The moment passed as quickly as it had come. Charlotte straightened her spine, socialite armor sliding back into place. “I need to go now.” She straightened the hem of her jacket with quick, nervous movements. “Can your driver take me to the Fifth Street campaign office?”

Two hours later, Reuben sat beside Wallace’s hospital bed. The harsh glare of the medical lights emphasized every line on his father’s face. Wallace looked shrunken against the white sheets, the rhythmic beeping of monitors counting out the seconds.

“The contract was signed.” Reuben leaned forward in the uncomfortable visitor’s chair. “Quantize Guard accepted our offer.”

Wallace attempted a nod, the motion barely perceptible. “Dmitrii?”

“Gone. But not for long.” Reuben crossed his arms over his chest, a muscle ticking in his throat. “Apparently, his men are already regrouping.”

“Charlotte?” Wallace’s voice rasped softly.

Reuben turned away, studying the stark lines of medical equipment. “Safe. Concerned mainly about her husband’s campaign.”

A bitter smile ghosted across Wallace’s bloodless lips. “Some things never change.”

“No.” Reuben’s throat constricted around the word. “They don’t.”

He pushed himself up from the chair, taking two steps toward the door before stopping. His fingers wrapped around the doorframe. “Why did you do it? Take the bullet?”

Wallace’s eyelids drooped, the weight of exhaustion pulling them down. Every line in his face deepened. “Maybe I wanted to do something right for my family. For once.”

Reuben remained motionless, the silence stretching between them. Finally, he offered a single nod. “Rest. I’ll check on you later.”

Nikon was waiting in the hallway, pushing away from the wall as soon as Reuben emerged. His hand found the small of Reuben’s back as he drew close. “Dmitrii’s gone dark. His loyalists are mobilizing.”