Chapter 11 - The Empire Strikes BackWhile Vincent and Leo rebuilt their sanctuary in the high peaks of the Cascade Mountains, the corporate world below was descending into absolute chaos. The destruction of the Obsidian Lodge’s outer perimeter had sent a seismic shockwave through the underworld. Word spread like wildfire: the Wolf had been tested, and he had answered with fire and blood.
Inside the thirty-fifth floor of the Crowe Enterprises tower, Julian sat at a mahogany desk surrounded by three encrypted monitors. The screens flashed red as foreign algorithms hammered their firewall.
"They're liquidating our offshore accounts," Julian muttered, his fingers flying across the mechanical keyboard. "Someone with massive state-level clearance is trying to freeze our assets."
Suddenly, the elevator chimed. The doors slid open to reveal a woman in a tailored emerald suit, her silver-streaked hair tied back in a severe bun. It was Elena Vance—Marcus Vance’s older sister and the actual mastermind behind the Vanguard Syndicate. Unlike her reckless brother, Elena didn't rely on mercenaries and blunt force. She used law, leverage, and total economic annihilation.
"Tell Vincent Crowe that his little game of domestic bliss is over," Elena said smoothly, stepping past two armed guards without even glancing at them. "The boy belongs to the syndicate now, legally and financially."
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Julian stood up, his jaw set. "You have no jurisdiction here, Elena. The board—"
"The board answers to whoever owns the controlling shares," Elena interrupted, smiling coldly as she tossed a thick manila folder onto his desk. "And as of this morning, through a series of hostile proxy acquisitions, I own Crowe Enterprises."
