Chapter 7 - The Net Closes
On the exterior security monitor, Victor Sterling whipped around.
From the dense pine forest flanking both sides of the private driveway, the foliage suddenly rustled. Six unmarked federal tactical vehicles, sirens silent but lights flashing blindingly in the morning fog, surged out from the tree line, completely blocking the road behind Victor's convoy.
At the same time, two heavily armored transport trucks rumbled up from the main highway, cutting off any possibility of escape.
"Federal Marshals! Nobody move! Drop your weapons and put your hands behind your back!" a booming amplified voice echoed through the canyon.
Panic broke out instantly among Victor’s security detail. One of the guards reached for a concealed holster, but within a heartbeat, three red laser dots painted his chest, and he froze, raising his hands high into the air.
Arthur Ellison dropped the manila envelope as federal agents swarmed the convoy, kicking open doors, forcing Victor’s men to the ground, and slapping heavy steel handcuffs onto their wrists.
Victor Sterling stood frozen in the center of the driveway, his expensive suit jacket flapping in the rotor wash of a federal surveillance helicopter that had just dropped out of the cloud cover directly overhead.
"Mr. Sterling," Agent Hayes—the same federal treasury investigator who had helped us in Portland—stepped forward from the line of marshals, flashing his badge directly in Victor’s face. "You are under arrest for conspiracy, extortion, and attempted corporate racketeering. You have the right to remain silent."
"This is an outrage! You can't touch me! I have high-level connections in Washington!" Victor shouted as two agents grabbed his arms and forced him down onto the hood of his sedan.
"Your connections just resigned from their oversight committees twenty minutes ago," Agent Hayes replied dryly, gesturing for the agents to haul him away.
Arthur Ellison tried to scurry away toward the tree line, but a state trooper casually stepped into his path, grabbed him by the shoulder, and pushed him down onto the gravel beside his cousin.
"Arthur," Agent Hayes said, looking down at my father with absolute contempt. "It seems your family's talent for backing the wrong horse has finally reached its logical conclusion."
Inside the security foyer of Vale Manor, I lowered the binoculars from my eyes, letting out a long, shuddering breath I didn't realize I’d been holding.
Adrian walked up behind me, wrapping his strong arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder.
"It's over, Claire," he whispered softly into my ear. "They can never hurt you, or Ellie, or our family ever again."
I turned around in his arms, burying my face in his chest, letting the last remaining traces of fear and trauma melt away into the warmth of his embrace.
May you like
"Thank you, Adrian," I whispered against his shirt. "For everything."
"Always," he replied, kissing the top of my head. "Now... let's go tell our daughter that we're going to have the biggest, happiest wedding this coast has ever seen."
