Chapter 8 - THE FALL OF AN EMPIREThe color drained entirely from Marcus Vance’s face. The smug, untouchable corporate titan vanished in a single second, replaced by a cornered rat realizing the trap had snapped shut.
"You son of a bitch..." Marcus hissed, lunging forward to draw a hidden shoulder holster pistol.
Bang.
Richard’s Sig Sauer fired once. The bullet slammed into the hardwood floor an inch from Marcus’s wingtip shoe, sending splinters flying and freezing the lawyer dead in his tracks.
"Don't even think about it, Marcus," Richard said, stepping forward, the barrel of his gun locked dead between Marcus's eyes. "The federal wiretap warrant was signed forty-eight hours ago. Every word you just spoke was transmitted live to the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission."
Heavy boots thudded up the stairs—not the slow, calculated steps of mercenaries, but the rapid, thunderous rush of federal agents in full gear.
"FBI! Nobody move!"
Agents streamed into the nursery from the ruined doorway, submachine guns raised, sweeping the room in seconds. Two agents tackled Marcus Vance to the floor, slamming steel handcuffs onto his wrists as he cursed furiously, thrashing against the carpet. The two mercenaries dropped their weapons instantly, raising their hands behind their heads and hitting the deck.
Richard slowly lowered his gun, letting out a long, ragged breath he felt like he had been holding for three agonizing years.
He walked over to the oversized white bookshelf, keyed the biometric override panel, and pulled the heavy steel panic room door open.
Mrs. Higgins stepped out first, her eyes wide, holding little Mia in her arms. Behind her stood Lily and Chloe, clutching each other's hands tightly.
Lily looked up at Richard, her big brown eyes searching his face.
"Is the bad man gone, Daddy?" Lily whispered.
Richard dropped to his knees, dropping his pistol onto the floor, and opened his arms wide. All three girls rushed forward, burying themselves in his embrace, their small arms wrapping tightly around his neck.
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Mrs. Higgins wiped a tear from her cheek, smiling through her exhaustion.
"He's gone, sweetheart," Richard whispered, his voice cracking as he buried his face in Lily’s dark hair, letting the tears he had held back for three long years finally fall freely onto her coat. "He's gone, and nobody is ever going to hurt you again."
