Chapter 4 - The Poisoned Ledger
Damian moved instantly toward the bedroom door, but the sound was already fading as Elena’s soft, raspy voice drifted through the wood, comforting the boy. The realization struck Damian like a physical blow. The attack wasn’t a cartel dispute, nor was it Julian clearing old scores. It was a corporate coup masked as a kidnapping. The child was the single legal key to an empire worth billions.
""Elena cannot stay here,"" Damian said, turning back to Sophia. ""If Julian knows she survived, this building will be surrounded by sunrise.""
""It's worse than that,"" Sophia said, stepping closer to inspect the encrypted drive. ""Julian didn't act alone. He made an arrangement with the Bratva. In exchange for securing the baby and verifying the bloodline with the board, he's handing over the eastern shipping terminals.""
Mateo’s jaw set hard. ""The eastern terminals control the city's private waterways. If they take that, no one enters or leaves without Julian's permission.""
""Then we strike first,"" Damian stated, his tone freezing the room. ""We purge Julian's security detail at the docks and isolate him before he can convene the board of directors.""
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""You're too late, Damian,"" Sophia murmured, pulling her phone from her pocket and sliding the screen toward him. A live feed from the city's premier news network was already broadcasting an emergency bulletin: Vance International Headquarters surrounded by federal authorities following reports of illicit trafficking.
The caption below read: Julian Vance claims rogue brother Damian Vance on the run.
