Chapter 9 - The Fall of the House
Before the shadow could strike Julian’s skull, Maria surged forward from the floor, throwing her entire weight against Marcus Kane’s knees. The sudden impact threw the older man off balance, his grip slipping from Emma’s coat.
"Emma, run!" Maria shrieked, taking the brunt of Marcus’s heavy boots as he stumbled backward.
Emma dropped to the carpet, scrambled on her hands and knees, and darted beneath Julian’s legs just as Vance swung the heavy bronze statuette. Julian anticipated the blow, ducking low and driving the butt of the gun straight into Vance’s jaw. Vance crumpled to the floor, out cold.
Marcus scrambled to his feet near the open balcony, breathing heavily, his pristine suit torn at the seam. The autumn rain had begun to fall outside, whipping through the open doors, soaking the heavy velvet curtains.
"You think you’ve won, Julian?" Marcus sneered, wiping rain from his eyes. "The authorities already have the files Vance sent. In one hour, every federal agency in this state will be looking for Julian Sterling for wire fraud and child abduction. Victoria signed the transfer papers. On paper, you are a monster."
Julian stepped forward, keeping himself between Emma and the balcony. Emma was clutching his leg, trembling so hard her teeth chattered.
"I don't care about the money, Marcus," Julian said softly, lowering the gun to his side. "I don't care about the company. But Emma stays here. With me."
"She isn't your blood!" Marcus roared over the rising thunder. "She belongs to the Kane estate! I will tear this city apart before I let a Sterling raise her!"
Marcus reached inside his heavy overcoat, but he didn't pull a gun. He pulled out a small, black remote detonator. A faint red LED blinked steadily in the center.
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"If I can't take Clara’s legacy," Marcus whispered, his eyes gleaming with mad certainty, "then no one will."
Behind them, the faint smell of burning plastic and gasoline began drifting up through the floorboards from the cellar below.
