NO MERCY FOR THE ONES WHO BROKE YOU

The French National Police arrived at the gates twenty minutes later. Two patrol cruisers and an unmarked sedan blocked the avenue, blue emergency lights washing against the stone pillars.

Claire stood behind Pierce in the parlor, her heart hammering against her ribs as she clutched Leo tightly. ""Dad, they're going to take him. Derek filed a custodial interference claim before we arrived.""

Pierce gently touched her shoulder. ""Stay here. Marcus, come with me.""

Pierce walked down the front steps into the biting night wind to meet Commissioner Laurent of the Paris Brigade. The officer looked exhausted, clutching an official dossier under his arm.

""Monsieur Sterling,"" Laurent began respectfully, tipping his cap. ""We received a direct priority alert from the central magistrate. A father reported his infant son abducted by an emotionally compromised mother who fled state monitoring.""

""You know who I am, Laurent,"" Pierce stated calmly. ""And you know who Derek Vance is.""

""My hands are bound by the procedure,"" Laurent insisted gently. ""Unless an annulment order is uploaded to the judicial portal by midnight, I am required to place the child into protective custody until the family court convenes tomorrow morning.""

Pierce checked his platinum watch. It was 11:15 PM. Forty-five minutes remained.

""Derek’s lawyer paid off the night magistrate,"" Marcus whispered to Pierce. ""They're attempting to hold Leo in an undisclosed foster facility overnight. Once Derek has physical custody tomorrow, he will flee across the border to a non-extradition sanctuary.""

Pierce turned to Marcus. ""Call the Chief Justice of the Court of Cassation. Wake him up.""

""Sir, waking the Chief Justice requires executive justification—""

""Tell him Pierce Sterling is calling in the debt from the 2024 naval logistics reform,"" Pierce interrupted coldly. ""Now.""