Chapter 9 - The Final Confrontation
"You killed Sarah," Ethan said, stepping out from behind the marble angel, his hands empty at his sides.
Julian paused, his smug expression flickering for a fraction of a second before hardening into icy indifference. "Sarah was collateral damage. She was turning you soft, Ethan. You were going to sell the enterprise, walk away with your clean money, and leave me with nothing. I built this empire just as much as you did."
"You poisoned my son!" Ethan roared, his voice booming across the cemetery like thunder.
"I kept him alive!" Julian snapped back. "If he could walk, if he was healthy, he would have been the legitimate heir! The board would have rallied behind him when he came of age! By keeping him weak, I protected my throne!"
"You're sick, Julian," I shouted from behind Marcus, who had his weapon aimed at Julian’s head. "You're a monster!"
"I am a businessman, Miss Reed," Julian sneered. "And in business, threats are liquidated."
Julian raised his hand, preparing to signal his armed men to fire.
Wail of Sirens.
Red and blue light shattered the darkness of the graveyard as a dozen federal law enforcement vehicles roared through the cemetery gates, blocking every exit point. Helicopters cut through the rain clouds overhead, spotlighting Julian and his mercenaries in blinding white glare.
"FEDERAL AGENTS! DROP YOUR WEAPONS IMMEDIATELY!" a voice amplified through a megaphone echoed from the sky.
Julian’s eyes widened in horror. He turned frantically, looking for an escape route, but FBI tactical teams rushed the perimeter, weapons raised.
Evelyn Vance stepped out from behind the lead federal vehicle, holding a secure satellite phone.
"We patched the digital audio feed from that recorder directly to the United States Attorney's Office fifteen minutes ago, Julian," Evelyn called out over the sound of the helicopter blades. "The arrest warrants for murder, conspiracy, corporate fraud, and child endangerment were signed by a federal judge twenty minutes ago."
Julian dropped his umbrella into the mud. He looked at Ethan, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and unadulterated hatred.
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Ethan walked up to his brother as the federal agents tackled Julian’s mercenaries to the wet ground. Ethan stopped inches away from Julian, looking down at him without an ounce of pity left in his soul.
"It's over, Julian," Ethan said softly as federal agents forced Julian to his knees and slapped heavy steel cuffs onto his wrists. "You will spend the rest of your life in a concrete box thinking about what you did to my family."
