Chapter 14 - Escaping down the treacherous mountain trails into the freezing night brings a battered family closer to their final reckoning today.
The all-terrain vehicle bounced violently over rocky terrain as Julian navigated the steep mountain switchbacks.
Freezing wind whipped past their faces, carrying the distant scent of smoke and burning pine needles.
Little Lily buried her face in Elena’s black coat, sobbing quietly from the sheer terror of the ordeal.
Elena held the child tightly, her emerald green dress torn and stained with ash and mountain mud.
She looked sideways at Julian, noticing a graze wound bleeding slowly down his right forearm.
"Julian, you're bleeding!" Elena shouted over the roaring whine of the ATV engine.
"It's just a scratch; keep your eyes on the road ahead for any roadblocks," Julian shouted back calmly.
The encrypted satellite phone in Julian’s tactical vest suddenly buzzed with a priority incoming alert.
He fished the device out with one hand, hitting speakerphone while maintaining control of the steering wheel.
"Sterling," Julian answered sharply into the rugged receiver.
"Julian, this is Agent Miller of the Federal Bureau of Investigation cyber-crimes division," a voice replied.
Julian’s eyes widened slightly in surprise; Luca’s financial files had successfully reached federal authorities.
"Did you receive the encrypted ledgers and cartel routing numbers I uploaded from the safe house?" Julian asked.
"We received everything, Julian; warrants for Arthur Sterling’s arrest have already been signed by a federal judge," Miller said.
A profound wave of relief washed over Julian, knowing the net was finally closing around his corrupt father.
"Where is Arthur right now?" Julian demanded urgently into the phone speaker.
"He's currently boarding his private Gulfstream jet at Teterboro Airport trying to flee to Switzerland," Miller reported.
"Not on my watch," Julian growled, slamming his foot down harder on the ATV throttle pedal.
"Meet us at the private airstrip outside Poughkeepsie; we'll intercept him before his jet can clear the runway," Julian instructed.
"Understood; federal tactical units are converging on Teterboro right now," Agent Miller confirmed before disconnecting.
Julian turned the ATV sharply toward the highway interchange leading south toward the private aviation fields.
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The final showdown against the patriarch of the Sterling dynasty was about to begin on a global stage.
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