Chapter 5 - The Shield of Montgomery
James didn't flinch. He didn't raise his voice. He simply reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and dialed a ten-digit private number.
"Arthur," James spoke into the receiver, his eyes locked on Mark's sneering face. "Deploy the legal response team to Sterling’s immediately. I need a temporary restraining order, an immediate freeze on Mark Vance’s assets, and two armed private security details at the main entrance."
Mark stared at James, his confident sneer faltering slightly. "Who the hell do you think you are? Calling your little lawyer friends?"
James lowered his phone. "My name is James Montgomery. I am the chairman of Montgomery Global Capital."
Mark’s face visibly paled. Even a low-level thug in Chicago knew the name Montgomery. The Montgomery family owned half the commercial real estate downtown, three national banking firms, and employed the most terrifying corporate legal army in the Midwest.
"You're... you're lying," Mark stuttered, taking an involuntary step back onto the snow-covered sidewalk. "You're just a restaurant manager!"
"I own this restaurant," James said coldly, taking a step toward Mark. "I own this building. I own the bank that holds the mortgage on your illegal gambling den in South Chicago. And as of five seconds ago, I am personally financing Grace Vance’s legal defense against every fraudulent claim you have ever made."
Before Mark could process the threat, two dark SUVs pulled up to the curb, kicking up slush. Four broad-shouldered men in dark coats stepped out, taking positions on either side of James.
"Mr. Vance," one of the security guards said, stepping forward with a leather folder. "You are officially served with a emergency protection order signed by the Cook County Duty Magistrate. If you come within five hundred yards of Mrs. Vance or Chloe Vance, you will be arrested instantly without bail."
Mark looked at the muscle-bound security team, then at James’s unyielding, lethal gaze. He realized instantly that he was completely outmatched. The helpless woman he had planned to terrorize was no longer alone.
"This isn't over, Montgomery!" Mark spat, backing away toward his beat-up sedan. "She’s my wife! That kid is my blood!"
"If you ever speak their names again," James said, his voice ringing out across the quiet street, "I will ensure you spend the next twenty years of your life in a federal penitentiary for fraud. Test me, Mark. See what happens."
May you like
Mark scrambled into his car, slammed the door, and sped off into the snowy night, his tires spinning wildly on the ice.
James turned back to the warmth of the restaurant, his chest rising and falling slowly. The ghost of his past was no longer haunting him; a new purpose had taken its place. He was going to protect this mother and child with every resource he possessed.
