Chapter 13 - THE OLD MILL
The abandoned Vance textile mill sat beside the river like a dead animal.
Broken windows.
Rusting steel.
Dark water.
Julian arrived with the ledger inside a waterproof case.
Hayes followed two hundred yards behind with a tactical team.
Julian entered alone.
“Mom!”
His voice echoed.
A light clicked on.
Thomas was tied to a chair.
Eleanor stood beside him.
Sloane leaned against a railing, his injured leg wrapped.
And Senator Charles Mercer stood near the old factory windows.
Julian stared.
Mercer smiled.
“You caused a remarkable amount of trouble.”
Julian held up the case.
“Let Thomas go.”
Mercer shook his head.
“First the ledger.”
“First Thomas.”
Eleanor laughed.
“You still think you’re negotiating.”
Julian looked at her.
“You murdered Caroline.”
She showed no emotion.
“She forced my hand.”
“She was your daughter-in-law.”
“She was reckless.”
“You killed Dad too?”
Eleanor’s jaw tightened.
“He had a heart condition.”
“Answer me.”
“He became inconvenient.”
Julian went still.
Even after everything, hearing it was different.
She had killed his wife.
His father.
Tried to kill Lily.
For money.
Power.
Control.
Julian whispered, “You’re a monster.”
Eleanor’s eyes flashed.
“I built everything you inherited.”
“No. Dad built it.”
“I protected it.”
“You poisoned it.”
Mercer stepped forward.
“Enough.”
He held out his hand.
“The ledger.”
Julian tossed the case onto the floor.
Mercer nodded to Sloane.
Sloane picked it up.
Opened it.
His face changed.
“It’s empty.”
Mercer looked at Julian.
Julian smiled.
“You think I brought the real one?”
Gunfire erupted outside.
Federal agents stormed the mill.
Mercer grabbed Eleanor.
Sloane shot toward the entrance.
Thomas threw himself sideways in his chair.
Julian tackled Sloane.
They slammed into the railing.
Sloane punched Julian’s wounded shoulder.
Pain exploded through him.
Julian nearly fell.
Sloane pulled a knife.
“You should’ve taken the deal.”
Julian caught his wrist.
“There was never a deal.”
They struggled.
The railing broke.
Sloane fell backward.
He grabbed Julian’s jacket.
For one terrifying second, both men hung over the river.
Julian kicked free.
Sloane fell into the black water below.
Gone.
Behind Julian, Eleanor had a gun pressed against Thomas’s head.
“Everyone back!”
Agents froze.
Mercer was already on his knees in handcuffs.
Eleanor looked at Julian.
“You did this.”
Julian stared at her.
“No.”
Her eyes filled with rage.
“You destroyed this family!”
Julian shook his head.
May you like
“You did.”
Then Eleanor pulled the trigger.
