Chapter 7: The Empire of Deceit**
"Cole?" Julian panted, his knee pressing firmly against the accountant's chest. "What is on that drive?"
"It’s not just your family, Julian!" Cole wheezed, bleeding from his split lip. "Evelyn was running an illegal offshore trust for city council members and judges! If that drive goes to the District Attorney, half the county leadership falls with her! She promised to bury Claire, take custody of Lily, and inherit your father's trust fund to keep the payoffs flowing!"
Sirens approached rapidly once more. Julian kept Cole pinned until Hayes and his tactical team burst through the broken conservatory doors.
Hayes secured Cole and retrieved the thumb drive from the open safe. "Looks like Grandma’s little dynasty is completely rotten from the roots up."
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Julian walked back upstairs, his hands shaking, to find Lily peeking out from beneath the bedframe. He scooped her up and walked out onto the balcony, watching the flashing emergency lights illuminate the ocean waves. The nightmare was expanding, but the walls of deception were finally crumbling.
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