Chapter 5 - The Cost of a Name
Julian sat paralyzed on the blood-spattered floor, the realization settling into his bones like sub-zero water. Evelyn, the matriarch who had whispered poison into his ear since childhood, who had promised him the Vance empire on a golden platter, had abandoned him the moment the sirens sounded.
""She... she wouldn't,"" Julian stammered, shaking his head. ""She's my mother.""
""She is a Vance only by marriage, and a coward by nature,"" Victor said, stepping forward. The heavy soles of his oxfords left clean prints in the blood as he walked toward the door. He didn't look at Julian; his eyes were fixed entirely on Kozlov. ""The contract between your syndicate and my port authority stands as it was written thirty years ago, Dmitri. You keep your cargo on the outer buoy; my ships handle the manifest.""
Kozlov tapped an unlit cigarette against his gold case. ""And the twenty million this idiot borrowed from my firm?""
""Marcus will transfer the principal from Julian’s seized personal estate by sunrise,"" Victor replied without hesitation. ""With fifteen percent interest for your... inconvenience.""
Kozlov bowed his head slightly, a genuine smirk tugging at his mouth. ""A pleasure doing business with an honorable man. The city misses your generation, Victor. These young wolves have teeth, but no jawbone.""
Kozlov turned on his heel, his coat swirling as he stepped over the body of his fallen mercenary. Two of his men moved forward, hauling the dead soldier away by his tactical vest, leaving only smears across the white linoleum.
Julian saw his opening. With Victor watching Kozlov’s departure, Julian lunged for the side corridor toward the service stairs, his manicured hands scrambling for traction.
""Let him run,"" Victor said quietly, not even turning his head.
Behind him, Marcus lowered his sidearm. ""Sir? He still knows the private transport codes for the southern warehouse.""
""He knows nothing,"" Victor said, turning back toward Sarah. ""Julian has no money, no allies, and every dirty cop on his payroll was detained an hour ago. Let him run into the street with blood on his shirt and his mother’s sins on his back. Let him see what this city does to a man with no last name.""
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Victor knelt beside Sarah, his rough, weathered hands gently wrapping around hers. But Sarah wasn't looking at him. Her breathing had suddenly turned shallow, her eyes fixed on the puddle of amniotic fluid pooling beneath her gown.
""Dad,"" she gasped, her knuckles turning white around his wrist. ""It's time. The baby is coming now.""
