Chapter 11 - THE BARGAINJulian had one choice.
Save Elena.
Or protect Evie.
Vale knew exactly how to force his hand.
The exchange was arranged at an abandoned ferry terminal.
Julian arrived with Marcus.
Evie remained hidden with Jonathan.
Vale appeared with Elena.
A gun pressed against her side.
“Julian.”
“You're finished.”
Vale smiled.
“No. I'm finally winning.”
“You murdered my father.”
“Your father murdered himself.”
Julian's anger surged.
Vale continued.
“He built the machine. I simply learned how to operate it.”
“Let her go.”
“Give me the trust.”
“No.”
Vale raised the gun.
Julian stepped forward.
“Wait.”
Vale smiled.
“That's better.”
Julian handed over a folder.
Vale opened it.
His expression changed.
“Fake.”
“Yes.”
“You're bluffing.”
“No.”
Julian pointed toward the water.
“You think money makes me predictable.”
He looked at Elena.
“You don't understand what happened tonight.”
Vale frowned.
“What's that?”
“I stopped caring about the company.”
For the first time, Vale looked uncertain.
Julian continued.
“You want Mercer Global?”
“Eventually.”
“You can have it.”
Vale stared.
“In exchange for what?”
“Evie.”
Vale smiled.
“I knew you'd come around.”
Julian's voice became cold.
“You don't understand.”
He stepped closer.
“You can take every building. Every account. Every stock certificate.”
A pause.
“But you will never take my daughter.”
Marcus's team emerged from the darkness.
Police lights flooded the terminal.
Vale turned.
Gunfire erupted.
Elena dropped.
Julian ran toward her.
Vale escaped through the rear corridor.
Marcus chased him.
Julian knelt beside Elena.
Blood covered her shoulder.
“Stay with me.”
She smiled weakly.
“You came.”
“Of course I came.”
“Evie?”
“Safe.”
Elena closed her eyes.
Then Julian heard a child scream.
“Daddy!”
He turned.
Evie stood at the edge of the terminal.
Someone had found her.
A gloved hand covered her mouth.
Julian froze.
May you like
Vale's voice echoed through the darkness.
“Now we finish this.”
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