Chapter 6 - Bloodlines and Bargains
Two armed federal marshals stepped into the boardroom, placing heavy iron handcuffs around Harrison Vane's wrists.
"You're finished, Vane," Elias added quietly as the marshals led the cursing, red-faced executive out of the room. "Your assets will be liquidated by sunset."
As the boardroom emptied, I sat back in my chair, letting out a long, shuddering breath.
Elias walked over, pulling up a chair right beside me. He took both of my hands into his, squeezing them gently.
"You were incredible in there, Ava," he whispered, a look of profound pride shining in his eyes.
"I couldn't have done it without you, Elias," I smiled, looking up into his dark, warm eyes. "You gave me the strength to stand up to them."
"You always had the strength, Ava," Elias replied softly. "I just helped you find it."
Suddenly, Marcus stepped into the room, holding his phone. "Boss, we have a situation at the penthouse."
My heart dropped into my stomach. "The babies?"
"The babies are safe, Mrs. Miller," Marcus assured me quickly. "Our private security detail locked down the residential wing ten minutes ago. But Richard Miller just attempted to breach the building's basement garage with two armed men."
Elias stood up instantly, his dark eyes flashing with a cold, lethal rage. "Is he still on the premises?"
"Our men trapped his vehicle in the subterranean loading bay," Marcus reported. "He's trapped inside."
"Elias, please," I begged, grabbing his arm as we rushed toward the private elevator. "Don't let him near my daughters!"
"He will never lay eyes on them again, Ava," Elias promised, his tone terrifyingly quiet. "This ends today."
Ten minutes later, Elias's armored SUV screeched into the dimly lit basement garage beneath the penthouse building.
Four heavy security vehicles had blocked off all exits of the concrete bay. In the center stood a dented black sedan, its tires blown out by spike strips.
Richard Miller was pinned against the hood of the car, his hands zip-tied behind his back by two of Elias's tactical guards.
When Richard saw Elias and me step out of the SUV, he began screaming hysterically.
"Ava! Tell them to let me go!" Richard cried, tears and sweat pouring down his face. "Vane paid me to do it! He promised me two million dollars if I helped him frame you! I didn't want to hurt the kids!"
I walked up to him, stopping three feet away, looking down at the man who had tormented me for years.
"You threw us out in the freezing snow, Richard," I said, my voice cold and sharp as ice. "You called our daughters a curse. You left us to die."
"I was angry! I wasn't thinking straight!" Richard sobbed, bowing his head in pathetic desperation. "I'm their father, Ava! You can't do this to me!"
"You're not their father," Elias's deep voice boomed behind me as he stepped up beside me, placing a protective arm around my waist. "A father protects his children. You are nothing to them."
Elias looked at Marcus. "Hand him over to the NYPD officers waiting outside. Let him spend the rest of his life answering for tax fraud, extortion, and child endangerment."
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As the police officers led Richard away in chains, his frantic screams fading into the damp concrete garage, I leaned my head against Elias's shoulder, feeling a profound sense of absolute peace settle over my heart.
The nightmare was finally over.
