Chapter 10 - The Vault Ambush
"Don't move a muscle," a cold, metallic voice barked from behind the masked intruder.
Julian’s blood ran cold. He instinctively threw his body over Lily, shielding her small frame beneath the heavy fabric of his tuxedo jacket while his other arm locked securely around the sleeping infant in the gold dress. His heart hammered like a jackhammer against his ribs as he scanned the tiny vault room for any possible exit. There was none. The heavy steel door was their only way in or out, and it was now blocked.
"Step away from the table, Vance," the masked man commanded, shoving the trembling bank manager aside. The older man collapsed onto the polished tile floor, clutching his chest in sheer terror.
Julian slowly stood up, keeping his hands raised while his eyes darted toward the metal tray containing Maya's journal and the flash drive. "Who sent you? Was it the board? Was it my former partners?"
The intruder let out a harsh, humorless laugh, stepping closer under the harsh recessed lighting. "You always were a slow learner, Julian. You thought you could walk away from the firm with clean hands, build a nice little society life, and forget the millions you helped siphon into offshore accounts?"
Julian blinked in profound confusion. "What are you talking about? I didn't siphon anything! Maya’s letter proved the firm framed us—"
"Maya was a paranoid little fool who didn't know when to keep her mouth shut," the man interrupted, raising the pistol so the barrel pointed directly at Julian’s chest. "And now you've conveniently inherited all her little secrets. Hand over the flash drive, and maybe I'll let your little bastards grow up with a father."
Lily let out a terrified scream, burying her face in Julian’s waist. The sound of her cry seemed to trigger something primal inside Julian. Fear vanished, replaced by a sudden, blinding wave of absolute rage. This was the man—or working for the men—who had terrorized Maya, orphaned his children in practice, and ruined his entire life.
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Julian didn't reach for the flash drive. Instead, with a sudden, explosive movement, he grabbed the heavy metal safety deposit tray from the table and hurled it directly at the gunman's face.
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