Chapter 2 - The Syndicate's Money
I stared at Sloane's text message while the desert wind whipped dust against my boots.
The Vargas Syndicate was a notorious international crime ring known for laundering dirty money through massive real estate acquisitions.
Victor had not just committed a federal crime.
He had actively stolen two million dollars from ruthless criminals.
I quickly dialed Sloane's secure line.
"How fast did Victor spend the money?" I asked her.
"He wired it immediately to multiple offshore debt collectors and paid for the Hawaii trip in full," Sloane replied.
"The account is already empty."
My stepfather was a complete fool.
He thought he was outsmarting a dead man, but instead, he had signed his own death warrant.
"Can we freeze the transaction?" I asked.
"The federal trust automatically invalidated the sale, which means the syndicate does not own the land," Sloane explained.
"But they are going to want their two million dollars back, and Victor doesn't have a single penny left."
I rubbed my temples, feeling a massive headache coming on.
I hated Victor, but my mother and my naive half-sister Brianna lived in that same house.
If the syndicate sent their collectors to Colorado, my family would be in severe physical danger.
My phone began to vibrate relentlessly with incoming calls from Victor.
I finally pressed the green button and answered.
"Elena, what the hell is going on?" Victor shouted, his voice cracking with panic.
"My broker just told me the sale is void and the feds are investigating him."
"You sold something that did not belong to you, Victor," I said with zero emotion.
"I am the legal owner of that cabin."
"You have to sign the rights over to me right now," he demanded, still incredibly arrogant.
"If you don't sign, the buyers are going to sue me into bankruptcy."
He genuinely had no idea who he was actually dealing with.
"They aren't going to sue you, Victor," I informed him.
"You just stole two million dollars from an international money laundering syndicate."
The line went completely silent.
I could hear his ragged breathing.
"Mom and Brianna need to leave that house immediately," I ordered him.
Before Victor could respond, a loud, violent crash echoed through his end of the phone.
I heard the unmistakable sound of a heavy wooden door being kicked completely off its hinges.
"Victor, who is there?" I yelled.
May you like
A deep, unfamiliar voice picked up the phone.
"We are the new owners of the cabin," the stranger laughed, "and we are taking your mother as collateral until you sign the deed."
