Chapter 4: The Hunter Becomes the Prey
Julian Thorne sat in a dingy motel on the outskirts of the city, his expensive Italian suit ruined, his hands shaking. He had no money, no connections, and no father to call—Richard Thorne had already cut him off, terrified that Julian’s association would bring the feds to his own door.
The irony was delicious. Julian, the boy who owned everything, was now hiding from the world.
He heard a car door slam outside. Then, another.
He crept to the window, peering through the blinds. A fleet of black SUVs had formed a perimeter around the motel. Men in tactical gear, not wearing badges, but moving with professional, military precision, were fanning out.
He tried to run out the back, but the door was kicked open before he could reach it. Silas Vance walked in, holding a single, manila folder.
"Julian," Silas said.
Julian threw himself to his knees. "Please! I’ll tell you everything! I’ll tell you where my father keeps the offshore ledgers! Just don't—"
"I don't need your ledgers," Silas interrupted. He dropped the folder on the bed. "This is a confession. Not a statement for the police, but an admission of everything you did to Maya, recorded by the security system I installed in my own home."
May you like
"What are you going to do?" Julian sobbed.
"I’m going to leave you here," Silas said, turning toward the door. "The federal agents will be here in five minutes. And I’ve made sure they know exactly where to find you. You’re not going to be a billionaire in prison, Julian. You’re going to be a nobody. And you’re going to spend the rest of your life knowing that you lost everything because you thought you could break my daughter."
