Chapter 1
The water glittered in the McLean, Virginia, sunshine at the home of the billionaire owners of the Chase Group. The Chase Group was a growing conglomerate that used its venture capital division to help fund Chase Security.
Kieran Chase’s arms cut through the water with effortless grace. A shadow lengthened over him as he approached the wall. He kicked, turning himself over to float on his back, revealing a long white scar bisecting his abdomen. Ian Chase, his older brother by five years, stood on the pool deck.
“When did you get back?” Kieran asked.
“It’s one hundred and five degrees, and I’m standing here in a suit. You’re the mathematical genius; you tell me.” Ian tore his tie loose.
“Mighty testy.” Kieran splashed him.
Ian blew out a harsh breath. “I’m tired. Denver building inspectors are heaping on more requirements. Brock Carpenter is bringing on the legal hammers from hell.”
Kieran popped up on the deck. “Anything I can do?” His fit body dripped water on Ian’s shoes.
Ian scoffed. “I love you, baby brother, but this needs a fine hand.”
“I…aw, hell. You’re right. Go get some sleep. I’m heading into the office as soon as I shower.”
* * *
“Monique, look this way,”a paparazzo called to her. The black-haired, blue-eyed elite fashion model waved as she entered the grounds of the Fairmont in San Diego.
“Bonjour,” Monique Lillier said to her manager, Alain Charpentier.
“We are waiting for the sunset to shoot you in the hot pink one-piece.” He unlocked the villa door.
“As long as you don’t touch the camera,” she teased him.
“I only cut your head off once, but no worries, Mattia will be on the beach at three to set up.” He chuckled.
“Good. I’m going to sit by the pool.” She gave him her real smile.
“Enjoy, Monique.” Alain waved.
A light breeze made the private patio just right for some late morning lounging. Wearing a green floral sundress, Monique settled into a chaise on a secluded terrace, carrying an ice-filled glass and a glass bottle of seltzer. She kicked off her flip-flops and raised her long, shapely legs from the stone patio. She’d spent the last ten weeks traveling, and after participating in a night of fashion to raise money for White Star families, she was pleased to have a few weeks to relax as soon as this shoot was over.
After losing her sister years before to suicide, she took every opportunity she could to support the families of service members who took their own lives. Her arms rose as her mouth opened in an unfashionable yawn. As she returned her arms to her sides, the back of her hand glanced off the bottle, which shattered as it hit the ground.
She sighed heavily and cursed, “Ah, putain!”Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply to calm her annoyance.
As she opened her eyes, she noted that a noxious cloud of white vapor was rising around her. Upon further inspection, she realized the liquid had begun eating through the stone.
“Aide-moi. Help!” she screamed.
Now trapped between the wall and the acid, she stood on the chaise as the poisons continued to spread. Her heart pounded with terror. She had no idea how she would get to safety.
Her throat burned, her eyes watered, and her nose poured with mucous. She began to cough and wheeze. She turned on the chaise, trying to put the breeze at her back, hoping for some fresher air to breathe. Monique continued to call for help, but each desperate scream became weaker and scratchier.
The private security hired by her management company arrived after ten minutes, but to her, it felt like hours. Their shoes began to melt despite them spraying the pool deck with a water-based fire extinguisher. The more water they sprayed, the thicker the toxic cloud became.
Afraid to let her move, they called the hotel, who sent their own security. A full twenty minutes passed before someone called 9-1-1.
“J'en peux plus!”she screamed—she was fed up. As she grew more and more frightened, it was also getting harder to breathe. The acid was beginning to eat through the chaise’s legs, and the cloud of noxious fumes was thickening.
“Monique, stay calm.” Alain offered her a small smile from across the pool deck.
“Alain, I will not be calm. After I finish being scared to death, I’m going to be angry!” She balanced on the wobbly chaise.
