Chapter 13 - The Choice That Cost Ethan Everything
Ethan reached Daniel’s floor first.
The room was empty.
A wheelchair rolled slowly near the open service elevator.
Blood marked one armrest.
Valerie arrived behind Ethan.
“Daniel?”
No answer.
A phone sat on the bed.
It rang.
Ethan answered.
Julian spoke.
“Bring Valerie and the original trust.”
“No.”
“Then Daniel dies.”
Valerie took the phone.
“Where?”
Ethan turned sharply.
Julian laughed.
“The old bakery.”
The place where Ethan and Valerie had begun.
Bennett Bakery had been closed for years.
Inside, Daniel sat tied to a chair.
Julian held a gun.
He wanted Valerie to sign away her trust claim.
If she did, Julian could seize enough legitimate assets to rebuild.
Valerie approached the table.
Ethan remained ten feet behind.
“Sign,” Julian ordered.
Valerie picked up the pen.
Ethan said, “Don’t.”
Julian pressed the gun against Daniel.
“Sign.”
Valerie looked at Ethan.
For twelve years, men had made choices for her.
Her father.
Daniel.
Marcus.
Ethan.
Now Julian.
She dropped the pen.
“No.”
Julian’s face hardened.
“You think Ethan can save you?”
“I think I can save myself.”
Daniel suddenly kicked backward.
The chair struck Julian.
Ethan moved.
A gunshot exploded.
Valerie screamed.
Ethan hit Julian and knocked the weapon away.
Daniel rolled aside.
Police flooded the bakery.
Julian reached for a second gun.
Ethan had a clear shot.
For one second, everything his father taught him returned.
End threats permanently.
Instead, Ethan lowered his weapon.
“Take him.”
Julian stared at him in disbelief.
“You’ve become weak.”
Ethan looked toward Valerie.
“No.”
Police dragged Julian away.
Ethan had chosen a different life.
But outside, federal agents were waiting for him.
One approached with handcuffs.
“Ethan Cain?”
Valerie stepped forward.
“What is this?”
The agent produced an arrest warrant.
Ethan looked at it.
His own signature appeared on one of the criminal ledgers.
A transaction worth forty million dollars.
Dated three years earlier.
May you like
Ethan knew immediately who had signed it.
And the only person who could prove it was being placed into an ambulance behind him.
