Chapter 2 - Private War
The men filing into the cavernous villa wore unmarked charcoal tactical vests and balaclavas, moving with lethal precision. Eleanor shrieked, cowering behind the central marble island, while Daniel scrambled backward, his navy trousers soaked in grease.
Maya remained rooted where she was, her heart hammering against her ribs, but her chin held high. These were not the city police.
A tall figure stepped through the perimeter guards, unfastening his dark trench coat. Marcus Cole—her father’s personal attorney and former intelligence contractor—walked into the kitchen, his steel-gray eyes taking in the scene with detached disgust.
""Eleanor Vance. Daniel Vance,"" Marcus announced, tossing two sealed Manila envelopes onto the grease-slicked floor. ""You have sixty seconds to step away from Miss Lin before my extraction team treats you as active hostiles.""
""Marcus!"" Eleanor wailed, her voice shrill and trembling. ""This is private property! How dare you bring armed thugs into my husband's home!""
""This is no longer your husband's home, Mrs. Vance,"" Marcus replied calmly. ""As of 8:00 AM this morning, probate cleared in Zurich. Miss Lin holds the full deed, the controlling voting shares, and every private vault under the Vance family trust.""
Daniel pushed himself up against the kitchen cabinets, glaring at Marcus with venomous rage. ""She’s an illegitimate nobody! My father was out of his mind on painkillers when he altered that deed!""
""Your father's mental competency was certified by three independent neurologists,"" Marcus said. ""Whereas your recent offshore transfers to the Cayman accounts qualify as grand larceny and money laundering.""
Daniel lunged suddenly, not toward Maya, but toward the marble counter where the duplicate deeds lay. ""I'll burn it all down before she gets a penny!""
A sharp crack echoed through the room. A non-lethal beanbag round struck Daniel squarely in the shoulder, knocking him violently to the ground. He groaned, clutching his bruised collarbone.
Marcus turned to Maya, extending his hand. ""Are you injured, Miss Lin?""
Maya ignored the pain burning across her skin. ""I'm fine, Marcus. Where is the ledger?""
Marcus’s expression hardened, a flicker of apprehension crossing his weathered face. ""That’s what we need to discuss immediately. We secured the safe in Geneva, but someone breached the auxiliary vault in Macau an hour ago.""
May you like
Maya’s breath caught in her throat. ""What did they take?""
Marcus lowered his voice. ""The original charter. And the key to Sector Nine.""
