Chapter 99
The small cabin was silent, save for the faint scratching of a pencil on paper. Celestina leaned over the table, sketching out a rough map of the presidential palace from memory. Dimitri sat across from her, his brow furrowed as he studied the layout.
“The vault,” Celestina said, tapping a spot on the map, “is in my father’s private wing. No one but him and his closest aides have access. If we can get in there…”
“We can get everything we need to expose him,” Dimitri finished, his voice steady. “Are you sure this is where he keeps the evidence?”
Celestina nodded. “I’ve seen him go in there after every major meeting. It’s where he hides everything—the files, the recordings, even personal documents.”
Dimitri glanced at her, his eyes softening. “This plan is dangerous, Celestina. If we’re caught…”
She met his gaze, her voice firm. “If we’re caught, then at least we’ll know we tried. I won’t let him destroy any more lives, Dimitri. This ends now.”
Night fell quickly, and with it came the time to act. Celestina, Dimitri, and their small group of allies—Rowan and Liora, who had managed to escape custody with Dimitri’s help—stood outside the palace grounds.
“This is it,” Rowan muttered, checking his watch. “Guards will change shifts in five minutes. That’s our window.”
Celestina adjusted her dark jacket, her heart pounding. “Everyone knows what to do?”
Liora smirked, her usual confidence shining through despite the tension. “Get in, get the files, get out. Simple enough.”
“It won’t be simple,” Dimitri said, his tone serious. “But we’ll make it work.”
Celestina took a deep breath, glancing up at the palace she had once called home. It looked more like a fortress now, its looming walls and floodlights casting long shadows across the grounds.
“We go in pairs,” Rowan said, motioning to the gate. “Liora and I will secure the west wing. You two focus on the vault.”
Celestina and Dimitri exchanged a brief, determined glance before nodding.
The inside of the palace was eerily quiet. Celestina led Dimitri through the narrow hallways, every step calculated to avoid detection. Her knowledge of the building’s layout proved invaluable as they slipped past guards and surveillance cameras.
As they approached the entrance to her father’s private wing, Dimitri grabbed her arm gently. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
She hesitated for only a moment before nodding. “I have to be.”
Using a code she had memorized long ago, Celestina unlocked the heavy door leading to the vault. The air inside was cold, the room dimly lit by a single overhead light.
“There,” she whispered, pointing to a locked cabinet. “That’s where he keeps everything.”
Dimitri quickly pulled out a small set of tools, working to pick the lock. The seconds felt like hours as Celestina kept watch by the door, her nerves stretched taut.
Finally, the lock clicked open. Dimitri pulled the cabinet doors wide, revealing rows of files, flash drives, and stacks of documents.
“This is it,” he said, grabbing as much as he could carry.
Celestina’s fingers brushed against a small wooden box in the corner. She opened it to find an old photograph of her mother, tucked alongside a faded letter. Her throat tightened as she slipped it into her pocket.
“Let’s go,” Dimitri urged, snapping her out of her thoughts.
As they turned to leave, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Celestina’s heart sank.
“Go,” she whispered to Dimitri.
He shook his head. “Not without you.”
Before they could move, the door to the vault swung open, and President Alvada stepped inside, flanked by two guards.
“Celestina,” he said, his voice calm but laced with disappointment. “I should have known it would come to this.”
Celestina squared her shoulders, stepping in front of Dimitri. “Father, it’s over. I have the evidence. You can’t keep hiding the truth.”
Alvada’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t understand what you’re doing. You’re tearing this family apart for what? To protect a man like him?” He gestured at Dimitri with disdain.
“I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “You’ve lied to me my entire life. You’ve lied to everyone. And now it’s time for the truth.”
“The truth?” Alvada scoffed. “The truth will destroy this country, Celestina. Everything I’ve done has been for its survival. For your survival.”
“No,” she said firmly, tears brimming in her eyes. “You did this for power. And I won’t let you hurt anyone else to keep it.”
Alvada’s gaze darkened, and he took a step closer. “If you leave with that evidence, you’ll be no daughter of mine.”
Her voice broke as she replied, “Maybe I never was.”
The guards moved forward, but Dimitri acted quickly, throwing a smoke grenade onto the floor. The room filled with thick, choking smoke as alarms blared throughout the palace.
“Run!” Dimitri shouted, grabbing Celestina’s hand.
They sprinted through the hallways, dodging guards and gunfire as they made their way to the exit. Rowan and Liora met them near the gates, covering their escape as the group fled into the night.
