Chapter 9 - The Desperate Gambit
In the distance beyond the mansion's manicured gardens, the wailing sirens of approaching police cruisers split the night air.
Julian Mercer’s eyes darted frantically between the blocked dining room doors and the panoramic glass terrace overlooking Lake Michigan.
"No... no, I can't go to federal prison. Arthur, you don’t know what kind of people we owe money to!" Julian panicked.
Suddenly, Julian lunged not toward the exit, but toward the dining table, snatching a heavy silver carving knife from the roasted beef platter.
The guests screamed in terror, retreating into the far corners of the dining hall as the blade caught the chandelier light.
"Back away from the doors, Arthur, or I swear to God I’ll cut my way out of this room!" Julian shouted hysterically.
Arthur didn’t flinch, his piercing blue eyes tracking the trembling steel blade in Julian’s sweaty grip.
"Put the knife down, Julian. You're already spending the rest of your pathetic life behind bars," Arthur said coldly.
Julian waved the knife wildly, swinging it toward Clara and Evelyn in a desperate bid to create a hostage distraction.
"Arthur, move!" Victoria suddenly screamed, trying to scramble past Julian toward the chaos at the doorway.
Julian turned on Victoria, his mind snapping under the pressure. "You got me into this, you greedy viper!"
As Julian turned his weapon toward his co-conspirator, Arthur moved with the explosive speed of a trained heavyweight.
Arthur stepped inside the arc of the knife, his left hand locking around Julian’s wrist with bone-crushing force.
With a sickening snap, Arthur twisted the wrist backward, forcing Julian’s fingers to splay and release the silver blade.
The carving knife clattered harmlessly onto the polished floorboards, sliding across the oak into the open floor hatch.
Before Julian could cry out in pain, Arthur drove a devastating right cross directly into the corrupt investor’s jaw.
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Julian’s head snapped sideways, his knees turning to jelly as he collapsed unconscious onto the carpet beside the dining table.
The two armed security guards swarmed instantly, pinning the limp man to the floor and securing his wrists with steel handcuffs.
