Chapter 13 - MIDNIGHT AT WHITMORE
Vanessa survived the shooting.
The bullet passed through her side without hitting an artery.
At 11:17 p.m., Marcus and Clara reached the Whitmore estate with federal agents hidden beyond the property line.
Julian had warned that any visible police presence would get Leo killed.
So Marcus went in first.
Clara used Vanessa’s key.
The estate was enormous and nearly abandoned.
Inside the main house, candles burned along the walls.
Julian sat at a dining table.
Leo was beside him.
Richard was there too.
Alive.
Barely.
Marcus entered.
“I’m here.”
Julian smiled.
“Where are the documents?”
Marcus tossed a folder onto the table.
“Release Leo.”
“You still think you’re negotiating.”
Julian opened the folder.
Clara watched through a cracked service door.
Leo saw her.
His eyes widened.
She pressed one finger to her lips.
Julian began reading.
“You transfer voting control of Blackwood Holdings…”
He smiled.
“Beautiful.”
Marcus stared at Leo.
“Let him go.”
“Soon.”
Richard suddenly laughed.
Julian looked at him.
“What’s funny?”
Richard lifted his bloody face.
“You still don’t understand.”
Julian’s smile faded.
“The company was never yours to take.”
“It should have been.”
“No.”
Richard looked toward Marcus.
“Because I changed the trust yesterday.”
Marcus frowned.
Julian stood.
“What?”
Richard smiled through split lips.
“Everything goes to Leo.”
Julian struck him across the face.
Leo shouted, “Stop!”
Clara moved closer.
Julian grabbed Leo by the collar.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Let him go.”
“You think a trust document matters?”
Julian dragged Leo toward the terrace.
“It matters if you’re alive to enforce it.”
Clara slipped behind a stone column.
Julian put the gun against Leo’s head.
Marcus froze.
“Please.”
It was the first time Clara had heard him beg.
Julian smiled.
“All your life, Marcus, you had everything.”
“I didn’t choose what happened to you.”
“You benefited from it.”
“Yes.”
Julian blinked.
Marcus continued.
“You’re right.”
Everyone went still.
“You were cheated.”
Julian’s gun lowered slightly.
Marcus took another step.
“My father failed you.”
Richard closed his eyes.
“I got the name, the money, the house. You got secrets.”
Julian’s breathing changed.
“But Elena didn’t do that to you.”
Silence.
“Leo didn’t do that to you.”
Marcus pointed to himself.
“If you want someone to punish, punish me.”
“Dad, no!”
Julian aimed at Marcus.
“Maybe I will.”
Clara moved.
She grabbed a metal candle stand and swung it hard.
It smashed into Julian’s wrist.
The gun flew away.
Leo ducked.
Marcus charged.
Julian tackled him.
They crashed through the terrace doors.
Richard shouted.
Clara grabbed Leo.
“Run!”
But Julian pulled a knife.
Marcus blocked the first strike.
The second cut his shoulder.
The third nearly hit his throat.
Then Derek appeared from the shadows.
Still limping.
Still bandaged.
He pointed a gun at Julian.
“Drop it.”
Julian froze.
“You.”
Derek’s hand shook.
“You raised me to become this.”
Julian smiled.
“No. I made you strong.”
“You made me hate myself.”
Julian stepped toward him.
“Shoot me.”
Derek’s finger tightened.
Clara shouted, “Derek, don’t!”
Julian moved.
The knife flashed.
A gunshot exploded.
Julian staggered backward.
His eyes widened.
Then he collapsed.
Derek stared at the smoking weapon.
Clara slowly turned.
Derek hadn’t fired.
Richard had.
The old man stood behind them holding the pistol.
His face was gray.
Julian looked up at him from the floor.
“Father?”
Richard whispered:
“I should have stopped you thirty years ago.”
May you like
And then Richard collapsed too.
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