Chapter 13
Harrison walked into the courthouse,
his long coat dripping with morning dew.
The building was quiet,
the hallways filled with the echo of his footsteps.
He met Elena in her office,
where she handed him a stack of signed warrants.
"This allows the federal marshals to freeze every account,"
Elena said,
looking worried.
"But Harrison,
be careful."
"Julian is desperate,
and desperate men do desperate things."
"I am counting on it,"
Harrison replied,
taking the papers.
Within hours,
the financial trap was sprung.
Across the city,
bank accounts tied to the Vance syndicate were frozen.
The flow of money stopped instantly,
leaving Julian's operatives unpaid and angry.
Harrison sat in his office,
watching the digital feeds update.
He knew the pressure would force Julian to make a mistake.
By late afternoon,
his phone rang.
It was an unlisted number,
but Harrison knew who it was.
He answered,
remaining completely silent.
"You think you've won,
Harrison?"
Julian's voice was frantic now,
the calm arrogance gone.
"You cut off my funds,
you hunted my friends."
"You have nothing left,
Julian,"
Harrison said coldly.
"Your backers have abandoned you."
"The law is waiting for you."
"I don't care about the law,"
Julian shouted into the phone.
"I care about justice for my family."
"If I go down,
I am taking everything you love with me."
"I know where they are,
Harrison."
"The cabin in the woods."
Harrison's heart froze,
a cold dread filling his veins.
How did Julian find out?
He didn't wait to ask.
He slammed the phone down and ran out of the office.
He called Marcus as he rushed to his car,
but the line went straight to static.
The satellite phone was being jammed.
Harrison started the engine,
the tires screeching as he sped out of the garage.
The drive that had taken hours that morning needed to be done in minutes.
He pushed the SUV to its absolute limit,
the engine roaring in protest.
He checked his watch,
each minute feeling like a heavy blow.
He prayed Marcus could hold them off,
prayed Khloe was safe.
The highway blurred past him,
a green and gray streak.
He turned off onto the dirt road leading to the cabin,
the car bouncing violently over the rocks.
As he neared the clearing,
he saw a plume of black smoke rising through the trees.
The cabin was on fire.
Harrison slammed the brakes,
leaping out before the car even stopped.
The heat hit him instantly,
the flames licking the wooden walls.
"Khloe!"
May you like
he screamed,
running toward the burning structure.
