Chapter 2 - The Cold Reckoning On The Texas Deck
The pitch-black darkness following the sudden silence on the suburban deck felt heavier than a physical blow.
Richard Vance stood erect under the dim exterior spotlights, his charcoal grey suit completely undisturbed despite the explosive violence that had just transpired.
Beside the wooden doghouse, Greg scrambled backward against the cedar planks, his white dress shirt torn at the collar where Richard’s fingers had seized him.
The triangular shadow box on the exterior wall held his father's folded US flag, its brass corner catching the faint moonlight like a silent witness to the family's ruin.
Jessica stepped back toward the sliding glass doors, the emerald green silk robe clinging to her trembling frame as the crystal champagne flute slipped from her fingers.
The heavy glass shattered against the wooden deck, spilling vintage domestic sparkling wine across the polished cedar boards.
"Richard, please," Jessica gasped, her smug demeanor entirely replaced by the raw panic of a woman who realized she had miscalculated the power dynamic.
"I didn't know he shoved her... Greg told me the house was entirely in his name!"
Richard turned his head with slow, terrifying military precision, his forest green tie perfectly aligned against his crisp collar.
"My daughter built this company with her own blood and sweat while Greg was spending my investment capital in Miami," Richard said softly.
"You brought a street mistress into my late wife's home, Greg," Richard added, his voice dropping into a register that made the ambient suburban night air turn frigid.
"And you put your hands on my pregnant child on the deck I built with my own hands."
Greg pulled himself up onto one knee, wiping a streak of deck dust from his cheek while trying to summon his usual wealthy arrogance.
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"You can't do this, Richard!" Greg yelled, his voice cracking as he pointed toward the glass doors. "The land deed lists my LLC as the primary trustee!"
"Your LLC was dissolved by the Texas Secretary of State at 4:00 PM today," Richard replied flatly, pulling a single sheet of legal bond paper from his jacket.
