Chapter 356

“Come on,” Anna said as she helped me to my feet. “We’ve got to get into the house while he’s reloading.”

I took her hand and let her pull me back inside the mansion.

Benson rushed across the foyer to my side as Anna closed and bolted the front entrance.

“A shooter tried to kill Miss Wilson,” Anna said. “The perpetrator is still on the estate.”

Benson hurried to a control panel near the front door and entered a code. A siren sounded, and I heard window and door locks engage.

The mansion was now locked down, and the police had been called.

Alex had the estate’s security updated after Amy’s grandmother, Martha Archer, made it onto the estate grounds and almost into the house without being seen.

Due to a fence and a new front gate, it would be more challenging to get in or out of the estate when it was locked down. It would also be hard to get inside the locked mansion, but neither was impossible for a determined assailant.

“Take Miss Wilson into the study,” Benson ordered Anna. “There are no windows, and Mr. Wilson had a metal door installed. Lock yourselves inside the room until I tell you the police have the assassin in custody.”

My legs shook as I stared at Benson. But Anna was calm and collected. She took my hand and pulled me into the study.

Anna locked Alex’s study door and put a hand on my shoulder. “Are you alright, Miss?” she asked. “I hope you weren’t hurt when I pushed you to the ground.”

“I’m fine. But how …how did you know? How did you know there was a shooter out there?” I asked.

“I saw the glint of the gun barrel in the trees.” Anna made sure the door was locked and sat on the couch. “The shooter must be an amateur. He didn’t know how to hide his presence in the hedgerow.”

“Did you learn how to spot a gunman in the army?” I asked and sat in a club chair. Part of me still didn’t trust her. I didn’t like being suspicious of everyone, but I couldn’t help it.

“Yes, Miss,” Anna replied. “It was part of my training.”

“Why did you apply for this job?” I asked. Maybe if I knew more about Anna, my mind would stop imagining her as a spy. “Being a maid is way different from being a soldier.”

“My father became ill last year and can’t work anymore,” Anna explained. “I didn’t reenlist when my time was up with the army so I could come home and care for my parents.”

“That’s admirable,” I said. “But with your background, why apply here as a maid?”

“Your cook is my father’s cousin,” she replied. “She told me Benson was looking for a replacement for your maid who betrayed you.” Anna looked me in the eyes. “I would never do that, Miss Wilson.”

“Not even if you needed money for your parents?” I asked bitterly.

“Mr. Klein has ensured my parents will be taken care of for the rest of their lives,” Anna revealed. “I’ll always be grateful to him for that.”

“What did he do?” I asked, my tone softening.

“He bought them a nice house and gave them a large pension. Now my mother can stay home and take care of Dad,” she replied. “And my salary is much better than I expected.”

“So, you were hired as my bodyguard?” I didn’t like not being kept in the loop. Someone should have mentioned Anna to me before she appeared in the mansion.

“Before I enlisted in the army, I was a licensed cosmetologist,” she said. “I do hair and makeup very well. And I admire quality clothing. I can care for your things and keep them in great shape.”

“I’m sorry for how I acted earlier,” I said.

Anna smiled. “After what your last maid did, it’s perfectly understandable.”

I returned her smile. “I trust your second cousin to handle my food, so I guess I can trust you. And I’m grateful to you for saving me from being shot.”

“I’m glad I followed you outside,” Anna said. “I felt terrible for upsetting and burning you with hot water.” Anna shook her head. “I am sorry for that.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” I insisted. “I was upset about other things and not watching where I was going. I’m sorry for snapping at you. I’m not usually such a jerk.”

“All the other employees here have told me how nice you are,” Anna said. “Let’s forget about it and start over.”

Talking to Anna, I had forgotten about the shooter outside the house. Had she distracted me on purpose?

I stood and began to pace the room. “I hope the police capture the shooter soon and nobody gets hurt. Many of the people who work here are dear to me.”

“That’s what I heard,” Anna said. “I’ll check with Benson.” She sent a text and waited a moment for a response. “The police just took the shooter into custody.”

“Let’s go out and see who it is.” I went to the door and unlocked it.

“Let me go first, Miss,” Anna requested.

“Only if you call me Daisy,” I said.

“I’ll call you Daisy when we’re alone,” Anna agreed. “I don’t think Mr. Carson would like it.”

I followed Anna out the door. She looked around carefully as we walked through the foyer.

Benson was standing at the now open front entrance. I followed Anna to his side.

“You may want to stay inside, Miss,” Benson advised. “The shooter is an angry individual.”

“I’d like to know why he was angry enough to shoot me,” I said and stepped outside.

A man in handcuffs, standing between two police officers, looked up and tried to rush at me.

I didn’t remember seeing him before. He was Alex’s age and was dressed in expensive camouflage outdoor wear. He wore an expensive watch on his left wrist and was well-groomed.

But the look in his eyes when he saw me was pure hatred.

“You, you Beta-loving traitor!” he yelled. “You belong in prison for what you’re doing to Alphas. If you love Betas and Omegas so much, go back and live with them in squalor.”

“I’m not a traitor,” I said, moving closer. “Liars have influenced you into trying to kill me. Caring about others no matter their social status is not wrong!”

The man strained against his handcuffs, and the police had to hold him back.

“Stop trying to ruin Alpha's lives, or you’ll be sorry,” he spat. “I’m not the only one who wants you gone from Victor Klein’s life.”

Anna appeared next to me and took my arm. “Let’s go back inside, Miss. The press is recording every word,” she whispered.

I spotted the reporters and cameras behind the police and nodded. There was no point in arguing with someone like the shooter.

We went inside, and Benson closed the door. A detective followed us inside and questioned Anna, me, and Benson before the police left, taking the shooter and the press with them.

Anna was arranging my hair in a new style when Victor hurried into the bedroom.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t home sooner,” Victor said as he kissed my cheek. “I was in meetings all afternoon, and I just heard what happened.”

I shrugged. “There wasn’t anything you could have done. Anna spotted the shooter and got me out of his sight.”

“Thank you, Anna,” Victor said. “I'm glad to have you here with us.”

“Thank you, Mr. Klein,” Anna said and affixed a gold half-moon pin to the back of my hair.

I looked into the mirror and smiled. “It looks fantastic, Anna. You are amazing, part lady’s maid and part bodyguard.”

“I'm glad to be of assistance,” she said and began to tidy up my room.

“Shall we go downstairs and watch the news until dinner is served?” I asked Victor.

He took my hand, and we went to the living room together.

We cuddled up together on the couch, and Victor used the remote to turn on the TV.

As expected, the top story was the shooter who tried to kill me. I grew tense when I saw footage of me trying to reason with the angry Alpha.

But in the next second, a breaking news story interrupted the story about me. Relieved, I snuggled into Victor’s arms.

But the newscaster’s next words had me on my feet.

“The electricity to Denhurst General Hospital has been cut. The power lines are lying in the street. Avoid the area.”

“I repeat, there are multiple live wires in the street around the new Beta hospital on Eighth Avenue. The hospital is totally without power at this time.”

“Victor, we must go there and do something,” I insisted. “Patients will die if we don’t.”