Chapter 8 - The Wrath of a King
Julian Sterling did not become the youngest tech billionaire in history by being soft. He was a ruthless tactician, and Silas Vance had just threatened the only things in the world Julian truly cared about.
Julian didn't call the police. He called his elite corporate security team—men heavily recruited from former intelligence agencies—and his army of cutthroat lawyers.
Within twelve hours, they found Silas. He was sitting in a high-stakes underground poker game in Atlantic City, sporting a new suit and flashing the diamond necklace.
The doors to the illegal casino burst open. A dozen men in black tactical gear flooded the room. Before Silas could even reach for his drink, he was thrown to the floor, a zip-tie cutting into his wrists.
He was dragged out of the building and thrown into the back of a soundproof black van. Sitting in the plush leather seats of the van, sipping a glass of scotch, was Julian Sterling.
Silas looked up, his face bruised and pale with terror.
"Mr. Vance," Julian said smoothly, taking a sip of his drink. "I believe you have something that belongs to my wife."
Julian’s head of security stepped forward, violently ripping the sapphire necklace from Silas’s jacket pocket and handing it to Julian.
"Now," Julian said, leaning forward, the polite veneer dropping to reveal the apex predator beneath. "You threatened my wife. You threatened my children. You thought because I wear a suit, I wouldn't get my hands dirty to protect them."
"I have rights!" Silas stammered, spitting blood. "I'm their legal guardian! I'll go to the press!"
Julian laughed—a dark, terrifying sound. He snapped his fingers. A lawyer in the corner of the van handed Julian a thick stack of documents.
"You see this, Silas? This is a complete dossier of every illegal thing you've done since you were eighteen. Extortion, arson, grand larceny. I've already forwarded a copy to the FBI, the IRS, and the Kentucky State Police. But that's just for fun."
Julian tossed the papers onto Silas's chest. "You are going to sign a permanent relinquishment of all parental and guardianship rights to Leo, Toby, and Mia. And you are going to confess, on camera, to the arson that killed Clara’s mother and scarred my wife."
"And if I don't?" Silas sneered.
"If you don't," Julian said softly, his eyes dead and cold. "The men in this van are going to take you for a very long boat ride over the Atlantic drop-off. And I promise you, Silas, they will not bring you back. You can sign the papers, spend the rest of your miserable life in a maximum-security prison, and live. Or you can refuse, and disappear tonight. The choice is yours."
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Silas looked at the heavily armed men surrounding him. He looked at Julian's cold, dead eyes. He realized he wasn't dealing with a civilized businessman; he was dealing with a king protecting his queen.
Shaking violently, Silas grabbed the pen and signed his life away.
