CHAPTER 5
Mateo moved with terrifying speed, stepping directly between the federal agents and the hospital bed, his massive frame completely blocking their view of Claire and her child.
"You are in the wrong room, Agent," Mateo said, his voice dropping into a lethal, quiet tone that made the lead officer pause in his tracks.
"Step aside, sir!" the agent ordered, reaching for his sidearm. "This is a legal federal court order signed by Judge Harrison!"
"Judge Harrison received two million dollars in offshore bribe payments from Grant Whitmore’s family trust three years ago," Mateo countered smoothly, pulling a sleek tablet from his jacket. "And those files were just delivered to the Department of Justice ten minutes ago."
The federal agents froze, their faces turning pale as Mateo turned the tablet screen to display live, certified banking ledgers linking the judge directly to Whitmore corruption.
"The Whitmore family is currently under active federal indictment for wire fraud, tax evasion, and human trafficking," Mateo added with a cold, victorious smirk. "Your warrant is completely void."
The lead agent’s phone suddenly buzzed violently in his pocket; he pulled it out, listened for five seconds, and immediately lowered his weapon with an embarrassed expression.
"We... we received an emergency freeze from the regional director," the agent stammered, backing toward the exit doors. "My apologies, Mrs. Whitmore."
The agents retreated hastily from the room, leaving the private suite once again enveloped in heavy, protective silence.
Claire looked at Mateo in total shock, realizing the sheer extent of the financial trap she and Mateo had orchestrated to destroy her ex-husband's family.
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"How long have you been planning this, Mateo?" she asked softly, her eyes searching his face as her baby cooed peacefully against her skin.
"Since the day Grant Whitmore came to my syndicate asking for money to abuse you," Mateo answered truthfully, sitting beside her on the bed. "I never intended to let him keep you."
