Chapter 4 - The Shadow of the Past
Back at the obsidian tower, the rain had cleared, leaving the Seattle skyline glittering like a bed of diamonds beneath a cold, clear moon.
Amy stirred on the leather sofa, her small fingers clutching the edge of a cashmere blanket that Ethan had personally draped over her shoulders. She mumbled something in her sleep about her mother and the dusting cloth, then settled back into a deep, peaceful slumber.
Ethan stood in his private study adjoining the office, staring at a digital dossier glowing on his wall-mounted monitor.
The face staring back at him was David Miller—a smooth-talking financial advisor with dead eyes and a trail of ruined lives behind him. And next to him was a younger photo of Sophie, smiling innocently, completely unaware that she had been married to a ghost.
"Boss," Mark said, stepping into the study with a heavy leather briefcase. "We intercepted a secure transmission from an offshore server. David Moretti—Vincenzo's nephew—is coordinating the hunt. They tracked David Miller to a safehouse in Portland. But there's a catch."
"Speak," Ethan said, pouring a glass of amber whiskey.
"David didn't just steal the bonds. He also left behind a digital encryption key. A dead man's switch. If he’s captured or killed by the Morettis, the location of every single offshore account, money-laundering shell company, and high-profile politician on the payroll of the Seattle syndicate goes public."
Ethan took a slow sip of his whiskey. The amber liquid burned his throat, but it was nothing compared to the fire in his chest.
"Vincenzo is desperate," Ethan noted. "And desperate men make mistakes. If David has that key, and Moretti’s men get to him first, they’ll tear him apart—and they won't stop until Sophie and Amy are eliminated to tie up every loose end."
"What are your orders?" Mark asked.
May you like
Ethan set his glass down with a sharp clack that echoed in the quiet room.
"We fly to Portland tonight. We find David Miller ourselves. We take the key, we secure the bonds, and we bring that coward back to Seattle to face judgment." Ethan paused, his gaze drifting toward the door where Amy was sleeping. "And if Vincenzo tries to stand in my way, I’ll burn his entire empire to ash."
