SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 146

Pain came first. A deep, burning ache in his chest that seemed to pulse with each heartbeat. Then sounds filtered in, the steady beep of machines, the squeak of rubber- soled shoes on linoleum, hushed voices just beyond his reach

Herod Preston opened his eyes

The hospital room swam into focus slowly White ceiling Blue curtains Clear tubes running into his arms. And a man in a dark suit sitting beside his bed, watching him with tired eyes.

"Mr. Preston," the man said, leaning forward. Im Special Agent Morgan with the FBI. Can you hear me?"

Herod tried to speak, but his throat

felt like sandpaper. A nurse appeared, holding a small cup of water with a straw. He sipped, the cool liquid both painful and soothing as it went down.

"Yes," he managed finally, his voice a raspy whisper. "I hear you."

Agent Morgan nodded to someone Herod couldn't see. A woman stepped into view, also in a dark suit. 'Agent Chen," she introduced herself. "You've been unconscious for four days, Mr. Preston, Do you remem The memories hit him like a physical blow. The motel room. The phone call to the FBI. Rose's face when she realized what he was doing. The sound of gunshots. The burning pain in his chest. "Rose," he said. "Rose shot me."

The agents exchanged glances. "Rose Lewis," Agent Morgan confirmed. "We've been looking for her, but she's disappeared." Herod closed his eyes briefly, gathering his strength. Each word cost him, but he needed to speak. Needed to finally tell the

truth.

"She was behind everything," he said, each word careful and deliberate. "The bombings. The sabotage. All of it."

Agent Chen pulled out a recorder. "Mr. Preston, would you be willing to make

an official statement? You have the right to have an attorney present."

"No attorney," Herod said. "I want to talk now. Before....." He didn't finish the thought. Before Rose could silence him permanently. Before he lost his courage.

Agent Morgan turned on the recorder, stating the date, time, and those present. Then he nodded to Herod. "Tell us what happened, from the beginning."

Herod took another sip of water, organizing his thoughts. The beginning. Where was the beginning? With his family's downfall at Victoria Kane's hands? With his first meeting with Rose? With the moment he rea "I met Rose Lewis six months ago," he started. "She knew about my hatred for Victoria Kane. She used that. Encouraged it. Made me believe we were partners with the same goal, revenge against the Kanes." "And were you?" Agent Chen asked. "Partners?"

Herod gave a small, bitter laugh that turned into

a wince of pain. "No. I was a tool. A convenient scapegoat with resources she needed."

"Resources for what?" Morgan pressed.

"Money. Connections. A name that gave her access to places she couldn't go on

her own." Herod's voice grew stronger as he spoke, as if the words themselves

were giving him energy. "Rose planned everything. The attacks on the Phoenix Grid. The sabotage attempts. The bombings."

Chen leaned forward. "Are you saying Rose Lewis planted the bombs herself?”

met her eyes. "She had training-I never

were on components. My DNA at

asked. "Where were

down at his bandaged chest. "I knew about them. I provided money. Equipment.

you didn't plant the bombs

admission brought no relief, no absolution. "But I didn't stop her either. That makes me guilty too." Agent Chen made notes on a

Successfully unlocked!

when I called

exchanged glances again. "No recorder

Morgan

thinking. The recorder had been in his jacket pocket when Rose shot him. If the FBI didn't have it,

Chapter 146

"Inside pocket. Or maybe

been through your clothing, Mr. Preston, Chen said. "There was no recording

cold realization washed over Herod.

me. Before you

"That's convenient

Lewis planned and executed the bombings.

evidence, it's your word against hers, Chen pointed out. And you have

despair. Of course they didn't

all trails led back to

A small

said suddenly. "The Plaza

an eyebrow.

surrounded by witnesses." Herod's words came faster now, urgent. "But she had to leave at some point. There would be a gap in the security footage. A period

returned."

Chen was writing rapidly now. "We

hotel's security cameras."

Herod added. "Service doors. Fire exits. Rose is smart,

Morgan looked genuinely

might Rose have missed?

communications, but sometimes she used her regular phone.

into it," Morgan

continued skepticism. He needed something more concrete, something they couldn't

memory

storage unit?"

"In Queens. Under the

217 at Secure Storage on Vernon Boulevard." The details came back to him in

it, but

"You're sure about this? Unit 217,

more. Check her connection to

the explosives through him."