Chapter 10 - The 6:00 AM Countdown
The wind howling off the river seemed to drop to a dead silence, leaving only the rhythmic, roaring crash of the waves far below against the jagged rocks.
Julian Vance stared at the barrel of the rifle, his eyes flickering down to the twelve-year-old boy holding it. For a fraction of a second, the billionaire’s polished armor cracked, a flicker of genuine shock crossing his features.
“You’ve got your mother’s spine, boy,” Vance said, his voice dropping into a low, rasping rumble. “Do you actually think you have the stomach to pull that trigger?”
“I don't know,” Caleb replied, his voice unnervingly steady, his arms locked straight without a single tremor. “But I know you don't want to find out.”
I didn't waste a second. I lunged forward, sweeping my foot hard against Vance’s ankle while he was distracted, sending the heavy titanium wrench flying out of his hand with a sharp clang across the concrete floor.
Vance stumbled, catching himself against the stone wall, his face twisting into a mask of pure, venomous rage.
“Mom, look at the screen!” Caleb shouted over his shoulder, his eyes darting to the laptop on the workbench.
I glanced down at the glowing LED display.
Upload Status: 99%
The timer at the top of the screen clicked over.
6:00:00 AM.
Across the country, on thousands of news terminals, financial server networks, and the front desks of every major federal agency, the encrypted cache containing Julian Vance’s entire criminal empire, municipal bribes, and forged deeds had just been released into the wild.
A heavy, low rumble echoed from the direction of the main manor house—followed instantly by the sharp, piercing wail of multiple distant police sirens cutting through the morning fog from the highway miles away.
Vance straightened his coat, his expression hardening into a mask of chilling resignation as the red and blue flashing lights began to paint the distant tree line.
“You think the police will save you, Mara?” Vance whispered, stepping toward the doorway as the first state trooper cruisers crested the estate ridge. “The men I owe money to don't use courtrooms. And when they come for you and your children, no amount of concrete will be enough to hold them back.”
Before I could answer, heavy boots crunched on the gravel outside, and a familiar voice roared through a bullhorn.
“FBI! Federal Law Enforcement! Step away from the building with your hands where we can see them!”
Vance turned slowly, raising his hands in mock surrender, walking out into the clearing as the federal agents swarmed the cliffside.
I let out a long, shuddering breath, pulling Caleb into my arms so hard I could feel his ribs pressing against mine.
“We did it, Cale,” I whispered into his hair.
“Yeah,” Caleb muttered, lowering the rifle with a sigh. “We did.”
My burner phone buzzed in my coat pocket.
May you like
With shaking fingers, I pulled it out and looked at the screen. It wasn't an alert from the news agencies. It was a text message from an unknown, untraceable number, displaying a single, chilling image:
A live security camera feed of Maisie and June sitting safely in the back of Clara’s car at the estate gates—with a red laser dot visibly resting directly across the rear windshield glass.
