Chapter 7 - The Bloodline Test
"Carter," Julian said slowly, stepping forward to shield Clara entirely with his torso. "You idiot. Do you really think she's going to let you survive this?"
"I'm her son, Julian. Her real son," Carter sneered, his hand steady on the pistol. "Not a half-breed like you, born to that pathetic Vance lineage she despised. Once you and your little peasant wife are at the bottom of the Hudson, the Montgomery board reverts to me."
Clara, despite the agonizing contractions tearing her body apart, looked past Carter at the metal wall behind him. She saw the brass lever that controlled the emergency funicular brake.
"Carter," Clara breathed, forcing herself to speak through the blinding pain. "Did you ever read... the real will?"
Carter’s eyes twitched. "Shut up."
"She’s lying to you, Carter," Clara gasped, leaning her head on Julian's shoulder. "Julian showed me the papers. You're adopted. You aren't in the bloodline trust at all. Eleanor had your adoption sealed when you were four so she could use you as a placeholder. The moment Julian is dead, the trust dissolves to *her*—not you. You’re her scapegoat. Who do you think the police will blame for this shootout?"
"LIES!" Carter roared, his composure cracking, the gun trembling in his grip. "Mother loves me! She promised me the chairmanship!"
That split second of psychological distraction was all Julian needed.
Julian didn't fire the shotgun. He threw his entire body forward, tackling Carter around the waist and slamming him into the steel mesh of the funicular shaft. The pistol discharged with a muffled *thud*, the round sparking harmlessly off the granite ceiling.
The two brothers grappled on the slick edge of the precipice. Carter gouged his thumb into Julian’s injured ribs, making Julian scream in raw agony, but Julian countered with a savage headbutt that shattered Carter’s nose.
Carter stumbled back, screaming, his hands flying to his face. His foot caught on the edge of the wet platform.
Julian reached out instinctively to grab his brother's collar. "Carter, grab my hand!"
Carter looked down at the black, churning waters three hundred feet below, then looked up at Julian with a mixture of terror and unhinged hatred. He spat blood into Julian’s eyes. "See you in hell, Julian."
Carter’s fingers slipped from Julian’s grip. He vanished into the darkness with a fading, guttural scream, followed seconds later by the faint, distant splash of the Hudson River.
May you like
Julian turned back, wiping the blood from his eyes. Clara was on the floor of the funicular cage, her legs curled, crying out as the final stage of labor began in the damp, cold dark.
***
