Chapter 11 - THE TRAP
Graham Sterling was detained by Elias’s private security.
But he wasn’t afraid.
That was the problem.
“You can’t hold me here,” he said.
Martin nodded.
“Correct.”
“So call the police.”
“We did.”
Graham smiled.
“Good.”
Damian looked sick.
“Don’t.”
Ava turned.
“Why?”
“Because some of them are his.”
Everyone went quiet.
Graham chuckled.
“Listen to Damian. He’s suddenly discovered survival instincts.”
Elias ignored him.
“Where is Langford?”
“I don’t know.”
Victoria lunged forward.
“You threatened him!”
Elias caught her before security could.
“Not helping.”
She jerked free.
Graham adjusted his cuff.
“My advice? Call your father.”
“I have.”
“Again.”
Victoria stared.
Then her phone rang.
UNKNOWN NUMBER.
Her hands shook.
She answered.
“Dad?”
Silence.
Then Robert Langford’s voice.
“Victoria.”
She nearly collapsed.
“Where are you?”
“I’m safe.”
“Dad—”
“Listen carefully.”
Everyone leaned closer.
“There’s a warehouse at Pier 41. Office twelve. Inside the wall safe is a ledger.”
Graham’s smile vanished.
Robert continued.
“Everything is in it. Names. Dates. Transfers. Judges. Bankers. Everybody.”
Graham moved.
Security slammed him against the wall.
The call crackled.
“Dad!”
Robert’s breathing changed.
“Victoria, do not come here.”
Ava heard shouting through the phone.
Then the line went dead.
Victoria screamed.
Elias turned to his security chief.
“Pier 41.”
Damian jumped up.
“It’s a trap.”
“Obviously.”
“Then don’t go.”
Elias looked at him.
“I wasn’t asking.”
Ava stepped forward.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“Elias.”
“No.”
“You need someone who understands the original property records.”
“I need you alive.”
“I’ll stay in the car.”
“No.”
She glared at him.
“You don’t own me.”
“I’m aware.”
“Then stop acting like it.”
He stepped closer.
“This isn’t an argument about independence. There may be armed people at that warehouse.”
“And Robert Langford is in there.”
“He spent years profiting from this.”
“That doesn’t mean he deserves to die.”
Elias stared at her.
Ava continued.
“And if that ledger uses the same shell-company codes as my report, I might be the only person who recognizes them.”
He hated that she was right.
She could tell.
Finally:
“You stay with security.”
“Deal.”
“You follow instructions.”
“Mostly.”
“Ava.”
“Fine.”
Twenty-five minutes later, three black SUVs moved toward the East River.
Rain hammered the windows.
Ava sat beside Elias.
“Are you scared?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She looked at him, surprised.
He kept staring through the windshield.
“People who say they aren’t scared usually haven’t understood the situation.”
Ava swallowed.
“I’m scared too.”
“I know.”
His hand moved between them.
Palm up.
Not grabbing.
Offering.
Ava stared at it.
Then placed her hand in his.
His fingers closed around hers.
Warm.
Steady.
For one strange moment, everything went quiet.
Then the lead SUV suddenly swerved.
Gunshots cracked through the rain.
The windshield of their vehicle exploded.
“DOWN!”
Elias threw himself over Ava.
The SUV slammed sideways.
Metal screamed.
Glass shattered.
Ava hit the floor.
Someone outside shouted.
Then she heard Elias grunt.
She looked up.
May you like
Blood was spreading across his white shirt.
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