Chapter 8 - The Auditor’s VerdictThe sharp crack of the suppressed pistol echoed through the warehouse like a falling tree.
Julian Vance didn't even have time to scream. His eyes rolled back behind his gold-rimmed glasses, and he collapsed heavily onto the concrete floor, a dark stain spreading beneath his tailored suit.
Dr. Harrison Cole let out a hysterical sob, dropping to his knees and pressing his forehead against the dusty floor. "Don't kill me! Please! I was forced! Elena threatened to kill my family! I swear to God!"
Elena stared at Julian's body, then up at her brother, her face completely hollowed out by terror. "You... you actually killed him."
"Julian was a traitor," Gabriel said flatly, lowering his weapon just an inch. He turned his cold gaze to his sister. "As for you, Elena... killing you would be too clean. Too easy."
Elena flinched. "What are you going to do?"
"You're going to pack a single bag. You're getting on a cargo freighter leaving for South America tonight. You will never set foot in New York again. You will never access a Falcone account, speak a Falcone name, or draw a single dime of family money. If you ever return, I won't use a bullet. I'll let Maya stitch you up."
Elena looked at me, her eyes burning with pure, unadulterated hatred. But she knew she had lost. She nodded mutely, too terrified to speak.
"Carmine!" Gabriel called out. "Take her to the ship. Make sure she leaves American waters before sunrise."
"Done, Boss," Carmine said, grabbing Elena roughly by the arm and hauling her screaming toward the exit.
Dr. Cole was still sobbing on the floor, shaking uncontrollably. Gabriel looked down at him with utter disgust.
"As for you, Doctor... you're going to write a full confession detailing every dollar transferred, every chemical compound used, and every person involved. Then, you're going to surrender yourself to the federal authorities under our special supervision. If you miss a single detail, your medical career won't be the only thing that gets amputated."
Cole nodded frantically, scrambling backward on his hands and knees. "Yes! Yes, I'll write it all down! Everything!"
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Within minutes, the warehouse emptied out. The mercenaries were zip-tied and loaded onto transport trucks, Cole was locked in a back room with a legal pad, and the heavy maritime air blew in through the open loading bay doors.
Only Gabriel and I remained standing amidst the shadows and silence.
