Chapter 7 - THE LION'S DEN
The plan was terrifyingly simple.
We would use the police blockade to our advantage. Julian sent a message through Marcus’s compromised contact: Vance wants to make a deal. The drive for the girl. Come to the villa at midnight.
Richard, arrogant and desperate to intercept the evidence before the Italian authorities got their hands on it, agreed.
At 11:30 PM, the villa was dead silent. Maya and Leo were secured in the subterranean wine cellar, guarded by two of Julian’s most trusted men.
I stood in the center of the massive, dimly lit living room. Julian stood beside me.
“You don’t have to be in the room for this,” Julian said quietly. He was wearing a dark suit, looking exactly like the terrifying billionaire I had met on the plane. But his hand rested lightly on my lower back, offering warmth.
“Yes, I do,” I said. My voice didn't shake. “I’ve spent three years shrinking for him. I’m not shrinking anymore.”
Julian looked at me with profound respect. “Then we stand together.”
At midnight, the heavy iron gates groaned open. Through the large windows, I saw a black town car pull into the courtyard.
Richard stepped out.
Seeing him made a phantom ache flare in my ribs. He looked exactly the same—handsome, impeccably dressed, exuding the charm he used to mask the monster beneath. He walked through the front doors, flanked by Greg and another armed man.
Marcus met them in the foyer, patting them down and confiscating their weapons before allowing them into the living room.
Richard’s eyes found me instantly. He smirked.
“Sarah,” he said smoothly. “You’ve caused quite a mess. Have you been playing house with Mr. Vance?”
“Shut up, Richard,” I said. The sound of my own steady voice shocked me.
Richard’s smirk faltered. He looked at Julian. “I’m assuming you want to handle this like businessmen. Give me the drive, and I drop the kidnapping charges. I take my family home, and you get to keep breathing.”
Julian walked slowly toward the fireplace. He picked up a crystal glass of whiskey, entirely unbothered.
“You misunderstood the invitation, Richard,” Julian said. “I didn’t bring you here to negotiate.”
Julian pressed a button on a remote control on the mantle. Suddenly, the large flat-screen TV on the wall flickered to life. It was a live feed of the courtyard.
The black town car Richard had arrived in was now surrounded by heavily armed Italian Polizia.
Richard’s face drained of color. “What is this?”
“You stepped onto my property to extort me for stolen corporate evidence,” Julian said smoothly. “The Italian authorities, whom I’ve been working with for six months, are listening to this conversation right now. The drive is already in their possession.”
“You set me up!” Richard screamed, lunging toward me.
Before he could take a second step, Marcus tackled him to the floor, pinning him face-down on the Persian rug. Greg and the other man raised their hands in surrender as police officers flooded into the living room.
I looked down at Richard as they cuffed him. He was a pathetic, thrashing mess. He had lost.
May you like
As they dragged him to his feet, Richard spat blood on the floor. He glared at me, his eyes filled with pure venom.
“You think you’re safe with him, Sarah?” Richard sneered. “You think he’s some hero? Ask him about the baby! Ask him whose name is actually on that kid's birth certificate!”
