Chapter 7 - The Blood Contract
Christian answered the satellite phone on speaker. A voice, slick and venomous, filled the small room. It was Richard’s father, Marcus Sterling.
""Christian,"" Marcus said smoothly. ""I assume you survived my houseguests? You always were resilient. But your little pet has run out of time.""
Elena gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles whitening. Christian leaned forward, his voice like grinding granite. ""You sent assassins to my home, Marcus. You just signed your own death warrant.""
Marcus chuckled, a dry, rattling sound. ""Check the financial registry, Vance. At midnight, the board voted in proxy. Elena's absence from the wedding and her subsequent disappearance were legally categorized as an emotional breakdown. Richard was granted temporary receivership. Her father's shipping lanes, the overseas accounts, the real estate—it’s all ours now.""
""Not yet,"" Christian replied icily. ""The bylaws require Elena’s physical signature or a ratified certificate of death. Receiver status gives you access, not ownership. And you won't get either.""
""Then we will find her and make the second option reality,"" Marcus hissed before abruptly severing the call.
Christian dropped the phone onto the table. He turned to Elena, studying her pale face. ""They own the judges, the police chief, and the media. If we go back as we are, they will arrest me for the dead men in my apartment and lock you in a private psychiatric facility until Richard bleeds your estate dry.""
""Then what choice do we have?"" Elena cried, despair finally cracking her voice. ""Hide here forever?""
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Christian walked over to a steel wall safe, spun the dial, and pulled out a blue-bound folder. He laid it flat before her.
""We fight them on their own ground,"" Christian said. ""Marry me, Elena. Tonight.""
