Chapter 12 - The Alliance
Julian gripped the edge of the kitchen counter, rage simmering beneath his exhaustion. "He’s closing the net. If he controls the narrative, no federal prosecutor will look at the drive. They’ll paint me as an unhinged rogue."
Maya stepped forward, holding the silver drive. "Evelyn said her brother David has contacts with the Department of Justice. But David is in Chicago, four hours away. We won't make it past the state police checkpoints."
Clara stared at the drive. She walked to the window, watching the heavy snow blanket the driveway. "Arthur doesn't own every official in the state. My father has judges in his pocket who despise Arthur Sterling's arrogance."
Julian raised an eyebrow. "Your father would help me? He wanted to shoot me an hour ago."
"My father cares about the Ashford name above all else," Clara said bitterly. "If Arthur Sterling goes down for arms trafficking, our family avoids being linked to a cartel syndicate. I will take the evidence to Judge Morrison tonight."
"No," Maya intervened, stepping between Clara and Julian. "Evelyn trusted Julian. She didn't trust socialites. If you give that drive to your father, he might use it as leverage to blackmail Arthur, not to save us."
Clara flinched, but she couldn't deny the truth in the girl's words. "Then what do you propose, girl? You walk out there, you get arrested or shot."
"We go to Chicago together," Julian decided, his voice resolute. "Clara, you have a private jet registered under your name at the municipal airfield. It doesn't fly under the Sterling banner. Can you clear a flight plan?"
May you like
Clara looked at the innocent baby on the table, then at Julian. "Get your coats," she said.
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