Chapter 5 - The Man In The Shadows
The peace in the penthouse lasted exactly four days.
On Friday morning, Donovan’s private encrypted phone rang.
Only three people in the world had the number, and none of them were calling.
"Hello, Donovan," a slick, arrogant voice echoed through the speaker.
Donovan immediately signaled to Pax to start tracing the call.
"Victor Vance," Donovan said, tasting bile as he spoke the name.
Victor was a corrupt real estate developer with deep ties to the city’s underground.
He was a man who wore expensive suits but operated like a cartel boss.
"I hear you picked up a little stray dog from the pound," Victor sneered.
"You should have left her there, Donovan."
"That thirty million belongs to Mave," Donovan said, his voice deadly calm.
"You used her aunt to drain the accounts, and now you want the kid erased."
Victor laughed, a dry, humorless sound.
"Her grandfather owed me debts that went beyond money."
"I took what was mine."
"If you try to fight me in court for custody of that brat, I will bury you."
"I will open up every dark file from your past."
"The extortion, the violence, the men you put in the hospital."
"No judge in this country will give a little girl to a monster like you."
The line went dead.
Donovan crushed the phone in his hand, the plastic cracking under his grip.
He turned around and froze.
Mave was standing in the hallway, holding Gerald Too.
May you like
Her eyes were wide with terror.
She had heard everything.
