Chapter 7 - The Hostage
The two armed contractors stepped into the judge’s chambers, swiftly locking the heavy oak doors behind them.
Marcus Vance kept his suppressed pistol aimed directly at Special Agent Sterling's chest.
"Slide the badge and your service weapon across the desk, Tommy," Marcus ordered, a cruel smirk twisting his lips.
"Did you really think Vanguard didn't run background checks on the lawyers handling our multi-million dollar acquisitions?"
Sterling slowly complied, his face a mask of furious professional calm as he disarmed himself.
My mother began to whimper hysterically, burying her face in her hands.
"Please, Mr. Vance, we will do whatever you want!" my father begged, proving himself to be the absolute coward I always knew he was.
Marcus ignored him, walking slowly around the large mahogany desk until he stood directly behind my chair.
I could smell his expensive cologne mixed with the metallic scent of gun oil.
"Here is the new reality of our situation, ladies and gentlemen," Marcus announced to the terrified room.
"My cartel associates are extremely impatient people, and they have already wired fifty million dollars into a holding account."
Marcus leaned down, pressing the cold steel barrel of the pistol against the side of my neck.
"Sign the trust document, Nora."
Ethan lunged forward with a furious roar, but one of the massive contractors struck him hard across the jaw with a rifle butt.
Ethan crashed to the floor, blood immediately pooling from his split lip.
"Ethan!" I screamed, desperately trying to stand up, but Marcus forcefully shoved me back into the leather chair.
"The next bullet goes into your husband's knee," Marcus threatened, pulling the hammer back with a sharp, terrifying click.
My hands shook violently as I grabbed the gold pen from the desk.
I looked at the trust document, my grandfather's life work, about to be handed over to a ruthless cartel front.
I looked down at Ethan, who was glaring at Marcus with absolute, unbroken defiance.
"Do not sign it, Nora," Ethan choked out, spitting blood onto the pristine carpet.
"If you sign it, they have no reason to keep any of us alive."
Marcus laughed cruelly and pressed the gun harder against my skin.
"Your husband watches too many movies, Nora," Marcus whispered in my ear.
"Sign the paper, or I will kill him right in front of you."
Tears blurred my vision as I pressed the pen to the signature line, completely defeated.
I quickly scribbled my name across the bottom of the page, signing away my grandfather's legacy to save the man I loved.
Marcus smiled in triumph, snatching the document from the desk and handing it to his contractor.
"Upload the signature to the bank and initiate the wire transfer," Marcus commanded.
Claire suddenly stood up, her eyes wide with greedy desperation.
"You promised me ten percent of the holding account, Marcus," Claire demanded, completely ignoring the fact that her family was being held hostage.
Marcus looked at my sister with pure, unadulterated disgust.
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"You really are a pathetic creature, Claire," Marcus sneered, raising his pistol.
But before Marcus could pull the trigger, the entire building was plunged into total darkness as the power grid was violently cut.
