flash
The screech of the chopper’s rotor blades vibrated directly through the freezing slate beneath my spine. The blinding white vortex of snow kicked up by the downdraft burned my eyes, but I forced my lids open, locking my gaze onto the amber visor of the rescue specialist dropping out of the sky. / Chapter 23 / 30

Chapter 23 - The Digital Hostage

My finger hovered over the trigger, screaming at me to shoot Richard right where he stood. But every maternal instinct I possessed locked my joints in place. Leo was back there, helpless and unaware.

"You're making a catastrophic mistake, Richard," I said, my voice dropping an octave, steadying despite the primal panic clawing at my throat. "If anything happens to my son, you won't make it out of this city alive."

"Spare me the dramatic warnings," Richard scoffed, pocketing his phone while keeping his eyes locked on mine. "Thomas left behind a detailed diary of every flaw in your corporate fortress. He wanted your money; I want your ruin. You are going to sign over controlling shares of Carter Global Holdings to my offshore trust by midnight tonight. If you don't, my men will cut the power, flood the nursery with gas, and make it look like a tragic house fire."

"And if I sign?"

"Then you and your boy get to live out your days in quiet obscurity—broke, stripped of your empire, and exiled from Denver," Richard said smoothly, stepping closer. "Choice is yours, Queen Elena."

"Fine," I whispered, lowering my weapon an inch as if conceding defeat. "You win. Let's go back to my office and draft the transfer papers."

Richard grinned, lowering his guard just enough as he reached for my arm to escort me to his waiting vehicle.

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I stepped past the door frame, my leather shoes clicking softly against the linoleum floor.

I stepped past the door frame, my leather shoes clicking softly against...

Daniel stepped toward the bed, his polished leather shoes squeaking against the pristine hospital linoleum. He reached for the tray table, his fingers brushing the edge of the papers. His voice was low, coated in a practiced, corporate calm that made my stomach churn worse than the spiked blood pressure.

Daniel stepped toward the bed, his polished leather shoes squeaking agai...

The silence in the dining room stretched thin, heavy enough to slice with a butter knife. Robert, Michael’s father, adjusted his napkin, completely oblivious to the silent war being fought across the porcelain plates.

The silence in the dining room stretched thin, heavy enough to slice wit...

It was the fatal mistake every arrogant man made when underestimating a survivor.

In a fraction of a second, I pivoted on my heel, swung my heavy combat boot upward into his knee with lethal force, and whipped the butt of my firearm directly across his temple.

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