Chapter 13 - The Final Confrontation
The clash of metal against metal echoed like a gunshot through the narrow utility corridor. Julian swung the iron poker with a primal fury, fueled by years of buried resentment and the terror inflicted upon his family tonight. Robert blocked the strike with his heavy wrench, his green eyes blazing with maniacal triumph as he shoved Julian backward against the concrete wall.
"You always were weak, Julian!" Robert snarled, pressing the edge of the wrench against Julian’s collarbone, pinning him in place. "Dad knew it. That's why the trust was mine!"
"Dad changed his will because you were a thief!" Julian roared back, summoning a surge of adrenaline that allowed him to wrench his shoulder free, sweeping his leg out in a sharp kick that caught Robert behind the knee.
Robert stumbled hard, crashing onto the concrete floor and dropping the wrench. Julian was on top of him in a fraction of a second, pinning his older brother’s arms to the ground with his knees, pressing the heavy iron poker across Robert’s chest.
"It's over, Robert," Julian panted, his chest heaving as he stared down into the face of his mirror image. "The police are locked out of the estate's exterior gates, but the national guard was automatically notified when the main vault security breach tripped ten minutes ago. They'll be through the gates by now."
Robert’s defiant smirk finally faltered, replaced by a flash of genuine panic. He looked up at the ceiling as the distant, unmistakable sound of approaching sirens began to filter through the thick concrete foundation of the mansion.
"You called them?" Robert hissed.
"I didn't have to," Julian said coldly. "The house did it for us."
Footsteps echoed from the top of the service stairs—heavy, rhythmic, and disciplined. Within seconds, uniformed federal agents and local police officers poured into the sub-basement, their flashlights and service weapons drawn and aimed directly at the struggling figures on the floor.
"Federal agents! Drop the weapon!" a sharp voice commanded from the top of the stairs.
May you like
Julian slowly raised his hands, stepping back from Robert as two officers rushed forward, immediately slapping heavy steel handcuffs onto Robert’s wrists and hauling him roughly to his feet.
---
