Chapter 77
Chapter 77:
In the hallway, Elouise was cowering against the wall. Robert was helping a bleeding Cory sit up. When they saw Gaston emerge from the darkness with Jocelyn in his arms, the room went silent.
“She… she must have wandered down there herself,” Elouise whispered, hands trembling. “Looking for wine p>
Gaston stopped. He looked at them. His eyes were black pits of fury.
“It was a joke!” Aspen squeaked from the top of the stairs, her face pale.
Gaston turned to face them all. “You locked her in a refrigerator,” he said, his voice low and vibrating with menace. “This isn’t a prank. This is attempted murder. And an attack on my wife is an attack on the Collins family. You just made a very powerful enemy p>
He let the words hang in the air. Then he turned and strode out the door, carrying his wife into the night.
“Pray she wakes up,” he said, without looking back.
“Hospital,” he yelled over the roar of the helicopter. “Now p>
The fluorescent lights of the hospital corridor hummed with an irritating buzz. Gaston paced the length of the hallway — back and forth, like a caged tiger. His white dress shirt was stained with cellar dust, and a smear of Cory’s blood darkened his cuff.
Leo came running down the hall, holding a fresh shirt and a tablet.
“How is she?” Leo asked, breathless.
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“Hypothermia and an acute panic attack. They have her on warming fluids and sedatives,” Gaston said, stopping his pacing. He ran a hand over his face. “She hasn’t woken up yet p>
A doctor stepped out of the room. “Mr. Collins? She’s stable. Her core temperature is rising. But p>
“But what p>
“She has significant bruising on her upper arms. Finger marks. Someone grabbed her. Hard p>
Gaston’s jaw tightened until a muscle jumped in his cheek. “Document everything. Take photos. I want a forensic report p>
The doctor nodded and retreated.
Gaston took out his phone. He dialed a number he rarely used.
“Dad p>
“Gaston?” Elbert Collins’s voice was gruff, surprised. “It’s 3 AM in London. Why aren’t you at the merger meeting p>
“The Schneiders hurt her p>
Silence on the line. Then a shift in tone — cold, professional, lethal. “How bad p>
“Bad. They locked her in a wine cellar. She could have died p>
“Do you want them in jail or destitute p>
“Destitute,” Gaston said. “I want them to feel what it’s like to have nothing. I want them to freeze p>
“Consider it done p>
Gaston hung up. He looked at Leo. “Call the bank. Pull the credit lines for Schneider Industries. Immediately p>
“Sir, they’ve been clients for thirty years. The breach of contract penalties p>
“Pay them,” Gaston snapped. “Then call the other banks. Tell them if they lend a dime to Robert Schneider, Collins Capital pulls every asset from their institutions by morning p>
Leo nodded, typing furiously. “Yes, sir p>
Gaston dialed the Hamptons police chief again.
“Chief. My wife has bruises consistent with assault and unlawful imprisonment. I’m pressing charges against Cory Schneider — and Robert and Elouise as accomplices. An attack on a Collins is a matter of public interest. I expect your full cooperation p>
“Mr. Collins, these are prominent people p>