Chapter 6 - The Trap
Vance’s hands began to shake visible against his crisp leather briefcase. "You... you're bluffing. Thomas didn't have that kind of access."
"Thomas was smarter than all of you combined," Gideon replied. "Now, you have exactly thirty seconds to turn those cars around and get off my property before my men disarm your private guards and lock you in our holding cell until the federal marshals arrive."
Vance backed away slowly, his eyes darting frantically toward his security detail. "This isn't over, Gideon! You can't fight Sterling Maritime!"
"Watch me," Gideon said as the iron gate swung open.
Vance and his guards scrambled back into their black sedans, speeding out of the courtyard with tires squealing against the gravel.
Gideon turned back to his men. "Set up a perimeter around the block. Nobody gets in or out without my personal clearance. Sterling is going to realize his empire is collapsing, and when rat gets cornered, he gets dangerous."
Gideon marched back up the stairs to the private apartment. As soon as he opened the door, Mara rushed into his arms, her eyes wide with terror.
"I heard everything from the window," she sobbed. "They're going to use CPS to take Leo away from me! They have judges in their pockets!"
"Not this time," Gideon said, gently taking her by the shoulders. "I just called Judge Eleanor Vance—no relation to that scum lawyer downstairs. She's a former Marine, a federal appellate judge, and a close friend of our organization. She’s issuing an emergency federal protective order for you and Leo as we speak."
Toby ran over, clutching a small tablet screen. "Dad! Look at the news!"
Gideon and Mara leaned over the tablet screen. A local news flash was breaking across the screen:
BREAKING NEWS: FEDERAL AGENTS EXECUTE RAID ON STERLING MARITIME HEADQUARTERS; CEO VICTOR STERLING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON FEDERAL FRAUD AND MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES.
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Mara covered her mouth with both hands, letting out a ragged sob of pure relief. "It's... it's over?"
"Not quite," Gideon said, looking out the window as red and blue lights began to illuminate the night sky down the street. "Now comes the hard part. Rebuilding your life."
