Chapter 12 - An Unholy Alliance
"Stand down, Julian," a woman’s voice commanded from behind the tactical mask.
The figure lowered the rifle and pulled off the ballistic helmet. Julian’s breath hitched in disbelief.
It was Eleanor Ashford.
Her elegant evening gown had been discarded, replaced by high-grade combat gear. Her hair was tied back, her eyes devoid of the shallow arrogance she had displayed in the ballroom.
"You?" Julian growled, his voice vibrating with predatory hostility. "I left your husband dying in a freezer."
"Robert wasn't my husband," Eleanor said coldly, keeping her weapon pointed at the ground. "He was my handler. I’ve spent four years embedded in the Ashford syndicate on behalf of Interpol’s covert operations division. Thorne’s network is an international plague, Vance."
Julian stood up slowly, lifting Lily into his arms. "You accused my daughter of stealing in front of hundreds of people. You put a target on her back."
"I knew Robert’s team was planning to kidnap her that night," Eleanor replied, her voice firm, unwavering. "I provoked that scene so you would bring Lily directly into the center of the ballroom under maximum visibility, where I thought my strike team could secure her before they moved. I didn't know Robert had already bought off half your domestic staff and orchestrated the switch."
Marcus emerged from the shadows of the containers, his rifle smoking, bleeding from a fresh shoulder wound. He raised his weapon at Eleanor, but Julian held up a hand, stopping him.
"Thorne is boarding The Leviathan right now," Eleanor continued, gesturing toward the massive cargo vessel pulling away from the dock, churning dark water as its bow turned toward international waters. "He has the Zurich master cipher. In twenty minutes, he will transfer forty billion dollars into shell accounts across three continents, funding a private war that will destabilize Eastern Europe. And he still thinks you're dead at the bottom of the harbor."
Julian looked down at Lily. Her shivering had slowed, wrapped in Marcus's dry tactical jacket.
"Get her to a secure hospital," Julian told Marcus.
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"Boss, no," Marcus protested. "You can't go after that ship alone."
"I'm not going alone," Julian said, his eyes locking onto Eleanor with terrifying intent. "She’s coming with me."
