Chapter 14 - The Ambush on the Pass
The radio transmission hissed with static, crackling through the federal agent’s tactical comms unit with chilling clarity.
"Ambush on the mountain pass! Prisoner transport vehicle disabled by an explosive charge! Suspects have taken Clara Vance into custody and fled toward the secondary logging road!"
Agent Vance cursed under his breath, snatching his walkie-talkie up to his mouth. "All units, form a perimeter around the north ridge! Do not let them cross the county line!" He turned sharply to look at Julian, his face hardening into an expression of grim realization. "David’s backup isn't just a corporate security detail. They have active military-grade extraction teams operating on U.S. soil."
Julian stared at the federal commander, the pieces of the puzzle snapping together with terrifying precision. "Clara wasn't just a pawn in a corporate takeover. She was holding the encryption keys to David’s secondary offshore servers in Zurich. If she talks, David goes down for treason, not just fraud."
Maya clutched baby Leo tight against her shoulder, stepping closer to Julian. "They're going to silence her, aren't they?"
"If David can't control her, he'll eliminate her," Julian replied coldly, turning toward his bullet-riddled Ferrari idling in the driveway. "And if she goes down without exposing the full network, the federal case falls apart on a technicality."
Agent Vance stepped into Julian’s path, holding up a hand to block his advance. "You're a civilian, Julian. This is federal jurisdiction now. Stay here with the children."
"The hell I will," Julian snarled, his voice carrying an authority that made the seasoned federal agent pause. "That's my company, my life, and my past destroyed by these monsters. You need someone who knows the estate's private logging trails better than anyone else alive. Give me a vest and a secure comms channel, or I go up the mountain alone."
Agent Vance studied Julian’s face for three agonizing seconds before nodding sharply. He unclipped a heavy tactical vest from a nearby gear crate and tossed it across the marble floor.
"Put that on," Vance ordered. "We ride in five minutes. If we catch them before they cross the ridge, we can recover Clara and secure the Zurich servers once and for all."
As Julian strapped the Kevlar vest over his ruined tuxedo shirt, he glanced down at Maya, who gave him a fierce, determined nod of approval.
"Bring her home, Uncle Julian," Maya whispered, her voice steady and brave. "Make them pay for everything."
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Julian turned on his heel, stepping out into the freezing mountain rain and climbing into the lead federal tactical vehicle as the entire convoy roared to life, charging up the slick mountain switchbacks toward the final showdown.
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