Page 218 of Gathered Sparkle

Oh, he’s not going to fix it.He’s going to finish it.

She stays rooted, and I know it’s not because she trusts us,God, no, but because the game is still in play. Running now would confirm her guilt in front of everyone, including the press and the police who are part of the audience for more reasons than one.

Her gaze flicks to Blackwood, her panic sharpening as the realization dawns.

Blackwood is the nail in the coffin.

“I think we can all agree things have gotten a little… heavy.” Koen pauses for effect, gesturing toward the three men still frozen in their trances. “And we can’t have that, right? Gentlemen, you’re all chickens now. And when I snap my fingers, you’re going to show everyone just how much of achicken you truly are.” With a flourish, Koen raises his hand and snaps his fingers. “Wake up.”

Blackwood’s arms immediately shoot up to his sides, mimicking wings, and he starts strutting across the stage, clucking loudly. The crowd bursts into laughter, shock and dismay replaced by pure amusement. Foster joins him, flapping his arms and letting out a series of loud, ridiculous crows. By the time Richard Belmont follows suit, it’s utter chaos as all three men strut, flap, and cluck like overgrown birds.

Fucking hell.

“Remind me never to cross you, Koen,” I murmur, catching the small smirk that forms on his lips in response.

Levi doubles over laughing, but when he finally straightens, he shakes his head. “Koen,” he chides.

“What?” Koen turns to him, his expression the picture of wide-eyed innocence. “Would you rather I had turned them into pigeons?”

The audience erupts into renewed laughter, and Levi smirks. “Obviously.”

Koen lets the laughter settle before raising his voice again. “Okay, enough of that. This is getting boring, don’t you think? I bet you’re all wondering what’s up with your card now.”

The crowd yells someyesandplease,and he snaps his fingers again. The three men freeze mid-strut, and he’ll keep them frozen like this for the police to pick up later.

Levi leans in close to Veronica, his tone soothing as if this was just an embarrassing hiccup. “See? Everything’s fine,” he whispers. “Play along, and the crowd will forget all about what they said.”

She glares at him, her hands balled into fists. She didn’t believe for a second that we’d spin this back in her favor, and now, she doesn’t know what to make of it. But she nods anyway, clinging to the pretense because it’s all she has fucking left.

“I need your handsome son for this one, Veronica.” Levi flashes his trademark grin to the crowd again. “Would you be so kind as to lend him to me, please?”

She gives him a tight smile. “Of course.”

I fly the camera drone in front of Harrington, who looks momentarily caught off guard but steps to the others without protest, greeted by a wave of applause.

“Look at thegood boyplaying his part,” I mock, making Koen huff out a laugh and Nova snort.

Harrington moves with his hands tucked casually into his pockets as he joins Levi.

“Thank you, Nicholas.” Levi gives him a friendly clap on the shoulder before he turns back to Veronica, producing the deck of cards he used a few moments ago from seemingly nowhere. With a flick of his wrist, the cards fans out. “Veronica, I want you to look through these cards as I run through them. Tell me if you see that they’re all different.”

She nods, her eyes scanning the cards as Levi flicks through them, holding them at eye level. “Yes, they’re all different,” she confirms.

“Perfect. Now, as I go through these myself, I want you to pick one card. Don’t say it out loud. Just think of it, hold it in your mind. Did you get one?”

Veronica’s gaze flicks toward the deck, and she nods. “Yes.”

Levi grins in approval as he pivots to address Harrington. “So, of all the cards in this deck, you have no idea which one your mother chose, right?”

He shakes his head. “I have no idea.”

“Amazing. Now, you’re going to pull one card from this deck, please.” Levi fans the cards out again and offers them to Harrington, who plucks a card from the spread.

“Veronica, dear…” Levi turns to her with an exaggerated flourish, “… can you tell us the card you saw? Say it out loud for everyone.”

“Ace of Hearts,” she announces.

“An Ace of Hearts, you say? Well, wouldn’t it be impressive if your son held your card right now?”

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