Chapter 5 - The True Colors of a Coward
Julian Sterling made his move before the federal agents could close the distance between them.
He abandoned his drink, shoved past two stunned socialites, and bolted toward the rear driveway leading to his sports car.
He had no intention of sinking with Vanessa Miller's burning ship of vanity and arrogance.
Stop him, General Davis ordered, but Maya Collins was already three steps ahead of the federal command.
Maya sprinted across the slick terrace with blinding speed, her combat instincts taking total control of her movements.
She closed the ten-yard gap before Julian could reach the wrought-iron side gate leading to the gravel drive.
Maya launched herself into a textbook low tackle, wrapping her arms securely around Julian's knees.
The wealthy lawyer let out a pathetic squeak as his legs were swept out from beneath him.
He crashed hard onto the gravel path, his bespoke suit ripping across both elbows as he skidded through the dirt.
Maya mounted his back instantly, driving her knee between his shoulder blades and pinning him to the earth.
Stay down, you thieving parasite, Maya hissed into his ear, twisting his right arm behind his back into a hammerlock.
Julian groaned in pain, spitting dirt and gravel from his mouth as the federal agents jogged over to apply cuffs.
You broke my wrist, you savage animal, Julian whimpered, tears of pain cutting tracks through the dust on his cheeks.
You will spend the next twenty-five years in federal prison wishing that was all I broke, Maya muttered cold-bloodedly.
She released the subdued lawyer into the custody of the CID agents and walked back onto the brightly lit patio.
Jack stood exactly where she had left him, his expression unchanging as the chaos settled around the pool.
Vanessa was now on her knees among the ruined cake, clutching the hem of her ruined crimson dress.
Jack, please, she sobbed, her voice transforming into a desperate, manipulative whimper.
Jack, look at me, you know I was only acting out because of the stress of taking care of you for so long.
I was confused, Julian manipulated me, he told me we were going to lose the house if we didn't restructure the deeds.
He made me sign those papers while you were in surgery, he promised he was protecting our future together.
You know how much I love you, Jack, remember what we promised each other at the altar before you deployed.
She crawled forward on her knees, leaving sticky streaks of vanilla frosting and red coulis across the pristine travertine.
She reached out her manicured hands, attempting to grab the cuffs of Jack’s trousers to beg for mercy.
Jack did not flinch, nor did he pull his leg away from her reaching grasp.
He simply leaned forward slightly on his crutches, looking down into the eyes of the woman he had once adored.
Do not touch me, Vanessa, Jack said softly, his voice devoid of all warmth, hatred, or familiarity.
You never loved me, you loved the prestige of marrying an officer, and you loved the money my sacrifice brought into your hands.
You thought my missing limb made me half a man you could manipulate and discard whenever it suited your greed.
You threw my leg into that water because you wanted to see me crawl on my belly like a dog in front of these people.
Jack straightened his back, standing tall and proud despite the missing limb beneath his tailored suit.
Now look at yourself, Jack whispered, motioning to the filthy, ruined mess she had made of herself on the ground.
You are the only one crawling tonight, Vanessa.
General Davis stepped up beside Jack, holding a manila folder containing an emergency federal court injunction.
Vanessa Miller, by order of the United States District Court, you are being served with an immediate eviction mandate.
You have fifteen minutes to collect your personal clothing under armed escort before this property is sealed.
If you set one foot on this estate after tonight, you will be arrested for trespassing on a Department of Defense research site.
Vanessa stared up at the General in horrified disbelief, her breath catching in her throat.
My jewelry, my designer handbags, my mother's heirlooms, she shrieked, scrambling to her feet.
Every luxury asset in that house was purchased with stolen funds from the Miller Trust, General Davis replied coldly.
They are now federal evidence, pending full civil asset forfeiture and restitution processing.
Two female federal officers stepped forward, gripping Vanessa firmly by her sticky, frosting-covered forearms.
Get your hands off me, do you know who my father is, she screamed as they began dragging her toward the house.
The remaining guests watched in stunned, petrified silence as the former queen of the local country club was hauled away.
Jack turned his gaze away from the spectacle, looking across the terrace toward the woman who had stood by him in battle.
Maya walked over to him, picking up the retrieved composite prosthetic from the poolside deck.
She held the dripping piece of high-tech machinery in her hands, looking at Jack with fierce, unbreakable pride.
Here is your leg, Captain, Maya said softly, a genuine smile breaking across her bruised face.
Jack took the limb from her hands, his grip firm and steady as he met the eyes of his combat medic.
Thank you, Sergeant Collins, Jack murmured, his voice finally softening with deep, unspoken gratitude.
Now let us go inside and finish what we started seven years ago.
Before Jack could slide the limb into place, the loud screech of another set of tires echoed from the main entrance.
A sleek black government sedan bearing diplomatic plates pulled up violently beside the military Suburbans.
A man in a dark trench coat stepped out into the night air, clutching an encrypted satellite communicator.
May you like
Captain Miller, the man shouted, rushing toward the terrace with an urgent, classified red folder in his hand.
Do not touch that prototype socket, we have a catastrophic breach in the Korengal Valley network.
