Chapter 7 - The Reckoning at Sea“Drop the gun, Michael,” Daniel’s voice growled in the dark, his breath hot against his twin’s neck.
Michael dropped the shotgun onto the carpet. “Daniel... wait...”
“You shot her thinking it was me,” Daniel panted, his mind completely snapped by paranoia. “You really tried to kill me.”
“She framed us!” Michael cried out. “Look at the speakers! Look at the doors! It’s her!”
Before Daniel could pull the trigger, the heavy steel shutters on the mansion floor suddenly lifted. The front doors hissed open. Standing in the doorway, framed by the bright spotlights of four heavy SUVs, was a squad of federal agents alongside the Coast Guard Special Investigative Unit.
Behind them stood Marcus Kane, holding a tablet streaming full video and audio evidence directly to the Department of Justice.
“Daniel Vance, Michael Vance!” a booming loudspeaker echoed across the driveway. “Put your weapons down! The mansion is surrounded! We have audio and video recordings of human trafficking, murder conspiracy, and financial fraud!”
The brothers froze. Their empire was shattered. Their money was gone. Their secret crimes were exposed to the entire world.
Panicked, Daniel threw a smoke grenade onto the floor, pulling Michael by the arm. “The underground tunnel to the boathouse! NOW!”
The twins sprinted through the hidden basement passageway, bursting out onto the private dock where The Seraphina—their white luxury yacht—was docked. They jumped on board, started the twin engines, tore through the mooring ropes, and sped out into the dark, stormy ocean, desperately trying to escape into international waters.
The waves tossed the yacht violently, just like the night they threw Emily overboard.
“We made it!” Michael laughed crazily, clutching the steering wheel. “We can make it to South America! We have cash in the safe!”
“Check the radar!” Daniel yelled, looking back. “Is anyone following us?”
“No,” Michael checked the screen. “The sea is clear.”
Suddenly, the yacht’s engines roared out of control. The steering locked completely. The digital navigation screen went dark, replaced by a red compass spinning out of control.
From the dark lower cabin of the yacht, footsteps ascended the stairs.
Emily stepped out onto the rain-slicked deck, holding a remote control device that had overridden the yacht’s engine board. She was wearing a black waterproof jacket, her hair blowing wild in the ocean wind.
Chapter Hook: The twins backed up toward the railing in absolute horror.
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“How did you get on board?!” Daniel screamed over the storm.
Emily smiled softly, pointing toward the roaring dark waters below. “I didn't board from the dock, Daniel. I swam.”
