Chapter 11 - the dawn run
The Manhattan skyline was shrouded in gray mist as the clock struck six in the morning.
Inside the armored Cadillac heading south on FDR Drive, Adrien listened as Marco interrogated Vincent in the rear van via encrypted comms.
"Vincent spilled everything," Marco’s voice came over the speaker. "The Swan Lake trust wasn't liquidated by your father, boss. It was hijacked by a board member named Evelyn Cross—the widow of your late uncle Roberto."
Adrien’s eyes narrowed into slits. "Aunt Evelyn? She’s seventy-five years old and lives in a penthouse on Park Avenue."
"She’s also the majority shareholder of Manhattan Trust," Marco replied. "She funded Marcus’s entire law firm. She used Marcus to track down Lena because Elena’s will has a clause: if the direct heir doesn't claim the three-billion-dollar estate by her thirty-second birthday, the entire fortune defaults to the Roberto Viscari estate. Lena turns thirty-two tomorrow."
Lena sat beside Adrien, her eyes wide. "Tomorrow? My birthday is tomorrow."
"Marcus was never planning on keeping you alive after tomorrow, Lena," Adrien said quietly. "Once the clock strikes midnight tonight, your existence becomes a legal liability for Evelyn. He was going to eliminate you and forge your signature on a transfer deed."
Lena leaned forward, her jaw set. "Then we don't wait for Evelyn’s lawyers. We open that vault first."
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Adrien looked at her, seeing his sister’s unbreakable spirit flashing in her eyes. He reached into his pocket and handed her an emergency burner phone. "If anything happens to me inside that bank, you call the federal prosecutor whose number is on speed dial. His name is Vance. He was your mother’s secret husband."
Lena stopped, her breath catching. "My father is alive?"
