Chapter 6 - the shadow on the snow
The wind picked up across the courtyard, blowing fresh snow over the fallen pine branches and shattered ornaments.
Dominic Vance stood backed against the icy stone fountain, his hand shaking as he aimed his remaining weapon at Victor.
"You think you've won, Victor?" Vance gasped, his silver hair wild in the wind. "Even if I die tonight... the registry documents are already uploaded to the federal database! The government knows about Julian's offshore trust!"
Victor stopped five feet away from him, standing tall in his midnight-black suit, his expression completely unbothered.
"The federal database?" Victor asked softly. "You mean the server hosted by Moretti Logistics in New Jersey?"
Vance’s eyes widened in horror. "What?"
"My legal team bought that server farm three years ago, Vance," Victor explained, his deep voice dropping into an ice-cold register. "Every document your sister tried to leak tonight was redirected straight to my private terminal."
Celeste let out a choked shriek from behind the fountain, realizing that seven years of scheming had been anticipated at every turn.
Victor turned his gaze toward Celeste. "You sacrificed your husband's legacy, betrayed your family, and brought armed mercenaries to my home on Christmas Eve... all for a trust fund that was emptied five years ago."
Celeste scrambled to her feet, her drenched emerald dress covered in mud and snow. "Emptied? What do you mean emptied?!"
"Julian didn't leave his wealth in an offshore account, Celeste," Victor revealed flatly. "He placed it into a private physical trust... a vault that can only be unlocked by two people."
Victor raised his left hand, showing his luxury gold wristwatch, beside which sat a small silver key matching the one from the wooden chest under the tree.
"And the second key," Victor added, "rests around the neck of Julian's son."
Vance let out a desperate growl, raising his gun to fire at Victor’s chest.
CLICK.
Vance’s gun jammed. Before he could clear the chamber, Victor stepped forward with terrifying speed, disarming Vance with a single heavy strike of his broad hand, sending the rival leader crashing onto the frozen flagstones.
Marcus stepped out from the east wing doorway, holding his radio. "Boss, the estate is completely secure. Local authorities have been redirected away from the area."
"Clean the courtyard," Victor ordered flatly, turning his back on Vance and Celeste. "Place Vance and my sister-in-law in the lower detention wing until the council convenes tomorrow morning."
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"What about Logan?" Marcus asked, pointing toward the spoiled eleven-year-old boy who was crying behind a stone pillar.
Victor looked at the boy briefly. "Send him to his father's relatives in Chicago. He will be provided for, but he will never step foot in this city again."
