Chapter 9 - The Hostile Takeover
I kept my gun leveled at my brother's chest, my hand trembling with a rage I had never known.
"You let me mourn you for six years," I said, my voice vibrating with absolute hatred.
"You let me build an empire on the ashes of my own guilt."
Ewan walked casually toward the foot of the bed, completely ignoring the weapon aimed at him.
"You always were the better builder, Julian," Ewan mocked, resting his hands on the wooden bedframe.
"But I was always the better ruler."
"I knew the other families would never respect me if I just inherited the throne."
"So I let you brutally conquer the city, crush our enemies, and consolidate the wealth."
Ewan looked at Celeste, sharing a sickening, conspiratorial smile with his partner in treason.
"And now that the hard work is done, I have returned to take what is rightfully mine."
He snapped his fingers, and one of the mercenaries pulled a thick stack of legal documents from his jacket.
The guard tossed the papers onto the small table beside me.
"These are the transfer documents, legally relinquishing all syndicate assets to me," Ewan explained.
"Sign them right now, Julian."
"If you refuse, my men will put a bullet in our mother's head, and then they will execute your lovely little nurse."
I looked at the men standing by the door, calculating the distance and the odds of a firefight.
I could kill Ewan, but the mercenaries would slaughter Delia and my mother before I could drop them both.
I was completely trapped in my own home.
I slowly lowered my weapon, placing it on the bedside table next to the documents.
"Fine," I spat, picking up the silver pen they provided.
"I will sign the empire over to you, but you let them walk away."
Ewan laughed triumphantly, stepping closer to watch me sign his victory into reality.
I bent over the table, pressing the pen to the heavy parchment.
Suddenly, Delia lunged forward from the shadows of the corner.
She did not grab a gun, nor did she scream.
She moved with the terrifying speed of a trained medical professional.
Before Ewan could react, Delia plunged a hidden, heavy-gauge syringe directly into the side of his neck.
Ewan let out a shocked, gurgling gasp, his hands flying up to his throat.
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"That is a concentrated muscle relaxant," Delia whispered into his ear.
"In ten seconds, your lungs will forget how to breathe."
