Chapter 16 - The Ultimate Betrayal
A deafening flashbang exploded through the panoramic glass windows behind Victoria!
The bulletproof glass didn't shatter—it imploded into millions of safety-beads as two tactical ropes swung into the penthouse sitting room. Marcus and Julian breached simultaneously, boots hitting the Persian rug with thunderous force.
Julian didn't hesitate. Before Victoria’s mercenaries could raise their rifles, Julian fired two double-taps, dropping the guards flanking Arthur instantly.
Victoria shrieked, swinging the Beretta toward Julian. "Traitor!"
Elena moved with the speed of a striking viper. Her hands locked around Victoria’s wrist, twisting the firearm upward just as Victoria pulled the trigger. The shot blasted harmlessly into the coffered ceiling, showering plaster dust across the room.
Elena drove her knee violently into Victoria’s midsection. The older woman gasped for air, doubling over, and Elena ripped the Beretta from her grip, throwing it across the slick floor toward Julian.
Julian kicked the gun away, his weapon trained on his mother’s chest.
"Move and I’ll put you in the floor," Julian said, his voice stripped of all filial warmth. It was the voice of an executioner.
Victoria collapsed onto her knees among the shards of broken wine glass, her white pantsuit stained with red wine and soot. She coughed, looking up at her son with a sickening mixture of rage and twisted pride. "Look at you, Julian... my masterpiece. You finally learned how to kill."
"I learned how to protect my family from monsters like you," Julian said coldly. He stepped past her and knelt beside Arthur, cutting his father's zip-ties with a tactical combat knife. "Arthur, are you alright?"
Arthur coughed, clutching his bruised chest. "I’m fine, son... thank God you came. But the servers..."
"Marcus already hijacked the relay node," Julian said, not looking away from Victoria. "The forged documents were wiped thirty seconds ago. The IP address linked directly to Lucian Vance’s offshore accounts. The FBI is raiding his suite on the ninth floor right now."
Victoria let out a wild, hysterical cackle from the floor. "You think Lucian was my only play? You arrogant, blind boy!"
Julian frowned, turning his gaze back to his mother. "What did you do?"
Victoria wiped a trail of blood from her split lip, her eyes gleaming with triumphant malice. "Do you really think I broke out of prison just to plant a rumor about incest? That was the bait, Julian! That was to pull you and Marcus away from Fifth Avenue!"
Julian’s face went rigid. Elena dropped to her knees beside Arthur, a freezing chill gripping her spine.
"The Neonatal Foundation..." Elena whispered, her voice breaking.
"No," Victoria sneered, her smile stretching like a ghoul's. "Not the foundation. The Sterling Vault on the subterranean level of the Fifth Avenue Tower. Where Alistair Sterling kept the true dynastic ledger. The ledger that proves that for seventy years, the Sterling fortune was built on blood-money laundering for the cartel."
May you like
"The ledger was destroyed during Alistair's funeral," Arthur stammered, horrified.
"No, Arthur, *you* thought it was destroyed!" Victoria laughed maniacally. "My real partner has it now. And right now, he is delivering it to the Department of Justice. The entire Sterling empire is about to be seized by the federal government under the RICO Act. Every building, every trust fund, every penny. By tomorrow morning, Julian, you and your little charity wife will be bankrupt street beggars!"
