Chapter 16 - The Cornered Beast
The immediate fallout was apocalyptic for The Vanguard. With the ledger publicly authenticated by Vance and downloaded by thousands of independent journalists worldwide, Thorne’s legal threats became entirely meaningless. The judges he had bought were instantly suspended and placed under investigation. The politicians he funded scrambled to distance themselves, calling for his immediate arrest to save their own careers.
But a cornered beast is the most dangerous.
As federal agents swarmed the convention center, Thorne’s private security detail managed to hustle him out through a subterranean service exit. He had vanished into the concrete labyrinth of the city.
Back at the safe house, the atmosphere was electric with victory, but Reynolds remained grim. "We froze his accounts and grounded his private jets, but Thorne has physical cash and safe houses we don't know about. He won't run. Men like him don't know how to lose. He will want revenge."
Sarah held Lily tightly against her chest. The victory felt hollow knowing Thorne was a ghost in the city, possessing the resources to strike at any moment.
That night, the power to the safe house was abruptly cut. The emergency generators failed to kick on. Plunged into absolute darkness, Mark immediately drew his licensed firearm, standing between the bedroom door and his family.
"Get in the closet," Mark whispered, his voice trembling but resolute.
Sarah took Lily, hiding in the reinforced panic space Reynolds had designed. She could hear the faint sound of glass shattering on the first floor. Thorne hadn't sent lawyers this time. He had sent a clean-up crew.
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"Federal Agents, drop your weapons!" a voice boomed from outside, followed by the blinding flash of tactical strobe lights piercing the windows.
Gunfire erupted, deafening and chaotic. Sarah covered Lily’s ears, praying in the dark as the smell of cordite drifted up the stairs.
