Chapter 9 - The Debt is Transferred
Julian dropped the briefcase as if it were on fire. ""Dominic, wait! She's bluffing! She can't hand over private corporate infrastructure to the feds without board approval!""
""The board approved it unanimously at 7:00 PM,"" Claire replied, her voice ringing clear through the cavernous warehouse. ""Under the maritime security umbrella, Vance Enterprises is now classified as a critical infrastructure partner. Any attack, financial or physical, against my company or my family is an attack on federal property.""
Valenti looked at Claire with a mixture of irritation and grudging admiration. He was a ruthless criminal, but he was also a businessman who understood calculated risk. Moving against a woman backed by federal jurisdiction was suicide for his operations.
Valenti turned his gaze back to Julian, his jaw clenching. ""You wasted my time, boy. You promised me assets you didn't have, and you tried to trap me in a federal sting.""
""No! Dominic, please!"" Julian fell to his knees, his arrogance completely shattered. ""I have offshore accounts! I can get you the money! Just give me a few weeks!""
""You have nothing,"" Valenti spat, signaling to his two bodyguards. ""Your thirty-million debt isn't canceled, Julian. It’s defaulted. And since your wife has made Vance Enterprises untouchable, the debt remains with you personally.""
Valenti’s men stepped forward, grabbing Julian by his arms and lifting him off his feet. Julian screamed, thrashing wildly. ""Claire! Help me! We're still married! You can't let them take me! Marcus, do something!""
Marcus turned his back on Julian, walking slowly toward Claire with his head bowed in shame. ""Claire... I was coerced. Julian threatened to ruin my family's firm.""
""Save it for the grand jury, Marcus,"" Claire said coldly, nodding to Thomas Drake, who stepped forward and clicked steel handcuffs around Marcus’s wrists.
Valenti looked at Claire one last time, tipping his hat. ""You have your grandfather's spine, Mrs. Vance. We won't bother your company again. But keep your husband out of my sight. Business is business.""
Claire watched in silence as Valenti’s men dragged a kicking, sobbing Julian into the back of their SUV. The engine roared, and the vehicle sped away into the fog, disappearing into the night.
Thomas Drake stood beside Claire, watching the tail lights fade. ""Do you want me to track them? Julian won't survive a week in their custody.""
Claire closed her eyes, listening to the distant waves crashing against the pier. She felt a profound sense of sadness for the man Julian used to be, but none for the monster he had become.
""He made his choices, Thomas,"" Claire said softly. ""Drive me home. My children are waiting.""
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As they climbed back into the armored truck, Claire’s phone buzzed with an emergency notification from Vance Tower security.
The safehouse had been breached again.
