Chapter 10 - The Trap Closes
Before Julian could pivot toward the door, two massive men in tactical gear stepped silently into the foyer from the side garage entrance, blocking his exit with quiet, terrifying efficiency.
Julian backed up a step, his hand dipping instinctively toward his coat pocket.
"Don't do it, Julian," Dominic warned, his hand still resting near his holster. "My men have shorter tempers than I do."
Julian froze, his fingers twitching inside his pocket before slowly withdrawing empty. He glared at Dominic with pure, unadulterated venom. "You think arresting me stops the files from uploading, Dom? The automated packet drop is already queued to hit the U.S. Attorney’s inbox at 6:00 AM whether I'm breathing or not."
"Let it drop," Grace said, stepping right up beside Dominic. Her voice was steady, free of any fear. "Let the feds come. Let them look at the ledgers. Because unlike six years ago, I’m not running anymore."
Dominic glanced down at her, a flicker of fierce, unspoken pride softening his dark eyes. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her firmly against his side.
"Take him out," Dominic instructed the guards without breaking eye contact with Julian.
The two men stepped forward, grabbing Julian by the arms and lifting him off his feet with effortless strength. Julian didn't scream; he just let out a harsh, rasping laugh as they dragged him backward through the doorway toward the waiting SUVs.
"You think you’ve won, Elena!" Julian shouted as the cool night air swallowed his voice. "The real players haven't even made their move yet!"
The heavy front door swung shut, locking automatically with a solid click.
Silence descended on the hallway once more.
Dominic looked down at Grace, his jaw tight. "We need to leave, Grace. Pack a bag. We have forty-eight hours before the automated packet drop forces a federal inquiry into this house."
May you like
Grace reached out, her fingers gently touching his cheek, smoothing the tension lines around his mouth just as she had three years ago in that twenty-four-hour diner near the Inner Harbor.
"No," Grace said quietly. "We don't run this time. We let them come. And when they get here, we show them exactly what happens when people try to tear down our house."
