Chapter 19 - The Executioner’s GambitThe silence in the grand hall was absolute.
Alistair Sterling, pinned against the statue by my husband, wept. The untouchable British aristocrat was suddenly a man staring into the abyss of his own ruin.
"The cartels..." Alistair wheezed, tears of pure panic pooling in his eyes. "The arms dealers... that was their money! You don't understand what you’ve done! They will kill me!"
"Yes, they will," I agreed softly, stepping closer so only he could hear the absolute lack of mercy in my voice. "You threatened my son, Alistair. I told you I fight with live ammunition. You wanted a war? Congratulations. You now rule an empire of ashes."
I nodded to Jack.
Jack released his grip in disgust, letting the broken billionaire crumple to the marble floor, gasping for air and sobbing pathetically. Alistair’s bodyguards, realizing their employer was now entirely broke and a marked man by the global underworld, slowly lowered their weapons and backed away, abandoning him instantly.
The heavy oak doors of the museum burst open.
A dozen heavily armed tactical agents from Interpol flooded the room. I had forwarded the unredacted ledgers to the global authorities five minutes before we walked into the gala.
"Alistair Sterling, you are under arrest for international terrorism financing and wire fraud," the lead agent barked, hauling the screaming man to his feet and snapping heavy steel handcuffs onto his wrists.
As they dragged him out into the freezing London rain, the elite power brokers of the city stared at me in profound, unadulterated awe and terror.
I calmly slipped the tablet back into my clutch. I picked up a fresh glass of champagne from a nearby table.
"My apologies for the interruption, ladies and gentlemen," I said, raising my glass to the stunned crowd with a flawless, radiant smile. "Please. Enjoy the gala."
I turned my back on the wreckage, took Jack’s arm, and walked out into the night.
We climbed into the back of our armored Maybach. The moment the doors clicked shut, the adrenaline finally crested. I let out a long, shuddering breath, resting my head against the leather seat.
Jack didn't speak. He pulled me seamlessly onto his lap, wrapping his strong arms around me, burying his face in the crook of my neck. He kissed my skin with a fierce, desperate, consuming devotion.
"You burned it to the ground," Jack murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "You saved our family."
May you like
"We saved our family," I corrected, lacing my fingers through his hair, pulling his face up to mine.
He crashed his mouth over mine in a passionate, intoxicating kiss. It was a promise of absolute loyalty, a sealing of our unbreakable pact.
