Chapter 13 - The Reckoning
The larger of the two guards stepped forward, reaching out for the canvas pouch in Julian’s hand.
Julian didn't hesitate. Dropping his center of gravity, he drove a vicious palm strike directly into the guard’s sternum, sending the heavy man crashing backward into the plywood-covered window frame. The second guard lunged, pulling a stun baton from his belt, but Julian caught his wrist, twisting it violently downward until the plastic weapon clattered onto the hardwood.
""Clara, run to the truck!"" Julian shouted, shoving the guard into the door jamb.
Clara didn't run. She grabbed a rusted iron fire poker resting against the hearth and brought it down across Henderson’s forearm just as he reached into his overcoat for a pocket pistol.
The small handgun flew across the room, sliding beneath the piano. Henderson fell to his knees, howling in pain, clutching his bruised wrist.
Julian stepped over the groaning guards, grabbing Henderson by the lapels of his expensive coat and lifting him six inches off the floor against the wall.
""You listen to me, Marcus,"" Julian snarled, his face inches from Henderson’s pale, sweat-slicked face. ""My phone has been streaming audio directly to the state attorney general’s special crimes unit since we pulled onto this street. Eleanor gave them the access codes two hours ago. Every word you just spoke about Delaware, my father, and the theft is logged on a state server.""
Henderson’s eyes widened in genuine terror. ""You're bluffing. You’d destroy the company’s valuation...""
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""I don't care about the valuation,"" Julian whispered with deadly clarity. ""I care about the debt.""
In the distance, the wailing sirens of Ohio State Highway Patrol cruisers echoed through the rain, growing louder with every passing second.
