Chapter 10 - Sirens in the Foyer
The piercing wail of police sirens flooded the grand foyer, instantly washing out the tense silence. Flashing red and blue lights painted the white marble pillars and the crystal chandelier in a chaotic, hypnotic rhythm. Through the shattered front door, shadowy figures in heavy tactical gear swarmed the porch, their automated rifles raised.
"Federal agents! Drop your weapons! Hands where we can see them!" a booming voice echoed through a megaphone from the driveway.
Viktor froze, his finger tightening slightly on the trigger before he slowly lowered the barrel of his suppressed firearm. He looked toward the open doorway, calculating his odds, then dropped the weapon to the floor with a heavy metallic clatter. He raised his hands behind his head without a word of protest.
"It's over, Viktor," Ethan muttered, finally releasing the breath he had been holding in his lungs.
Madison spun around, panic gripping her features like a vice. She turned toward the rear hallway leading to the service wing, desperate to find another exit, but her path was instantly blocked.
Sarah was already backing away from the stairs, her hands held high in the air as two uniformed officers stepped through the kitchen archway, their flashlights beam-locked on her face.
"Don't move! Put your hands on your head!" an officer commanded sharply.
Sarah whimpered, dropping the heavy leather ledger to the floor with a dull thud, and slowly intertwined her fingers behind her neck.
Madison stood frozen on the landing, trapped between the police at the front and Elena standing a few steps above her. Her pristine burgundy suit was now dusty and wrinkled, the illusion of her untouchable perfection completely shattered.
"You can't arrest me," Madison hissed, her voice trembling as she backed against the wall. "I have immunity. I have signed contracts—"
"You have a cell waiting for you, Madison," a deep, authoritative voice stated from the doorway.
A tall man in a dark trench coat stepped over the broken stained glass, his badge gleaming in the flashing red and blue lights. It was Special Agent Vance—no relation to Richard, but head of the federal financial crimes division that had been tracking Madison’s shell corporations for over two years.
Richard didn't move toward Madison. Instead, he hurried up the winding staircase as fast as he could, ignoring the blood and the chaos, until he reached the landing where Elena stood swaying on her feet.
"Elena," Richard choked out, gently catching her by the shoulders, his hands trembling violently. "Oh God, Elena... I am so, so sorry."
Elena looked into his eyes, her expression unreadable, neither accepting nor rejecting his embrace. She slowly raised her hand, pointing a single finger down at the floor where Madison stood cornered by the agents.
"Don't look at me, Richard," Elena whispered, her voice laced with exhaustion and iron resolve. "Look at what you invited into our home."
Federal agents swarmed the stairs, closing in on Madison from both sides. One of them slapped cold steel cuffs around her wrists with a sharp, metallic click.
As the agents turned Madison around to lead her down the stairs, her cold, blue eyes locked onto Leo, who was watching from behind the mahogany pillar, holding the black smartphone tight against his chest.
"This isn't the end, little boy," Madison whispered with a venomous smile as she was dragged past. "Your father's company is already bankrupt. You'll lose everything by morning."
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Before anyone could respond, a sudden, sharp crash echoed from the master bedroom upstairs, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps running across the ceiling.
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