PART 2 — THE SLAP THAT SAVED MY LIFE
The waiter didn't pull out a serving spoon.
He pulled out a handgun.
Guests screamed.
Tables overturned.
Champagne exploded across the floor.
Margaret shoved me so hard I crashed into Emily.
"DOWN!" she screamed.
Another waiter reached beneath his cart.
A second gun.
Then a third.
This had never been a catering company.
They had come for someone.
The ballroom dissolved into chaos.
People crawled beneath tables.
Crystal shattered.
Someone yelled,
"Call 911!"
I wrapped my arms around Emily and pulled her behind the head table.
My heart pounded.
"What is happening?"
Margaret didn't answer.
She grabbed a silver tray.
Hurled it across the room.
It slammed into one man's arm.
His weapon clattered across the floor.
I stared at her.
She moved with terrifying confidence.
Like she'd done this before.
One of the gunmen shouted,
"Get the bride!"
Emily froze.
"What?"
Margaret looked at her.
"They're not here for the wedding."
"They're here for your family."
Before I could ask another question...
The ballroom doors burst open.
Armed sheriff's deputies rushed inside.
"Drop your weapons!"
One gunman tried to run.
He was tackled before reaching the exit.
Within seconds...
It was over.
The guests slowly stood.
Crying.
Shaking.
Confused.
Emily looked at her mother.
"You knew."
Margaret lowered her eyes.
"I suspected."
She pointed toward the fake waiters.
"The real catering company never canceled."
"They disappeared."
"I knew something was wrong the moment I saw these faces."
I stared at her.
"So..."
"You slapped me..."
She nodded.
"I needed your head down before he pulled the gun."
Silence.
Then the sheriff walked over.
He removed his hat.
"Mrs. Bennett..."
"You were right."
"We found the real catering crew."
My stomach dropped.
"Where?"
The sheriff answered quietly.
"Locked inside a warehouse."
"They were taken last night."
Every guest went silent.
Then he looked at Emily.
"And we believe..."
"...your father was the real target."
At that exact moment...
A detective hurried into the ballroom holding a phone.
"Sheriff..."
"You need to hear this."
He pressed PLAY.
A familiar voice echoed through the room.
May you like
It belonged to my mother.
END OF PART 2.
