Chapter 36 - The Exile
The execution of my order was flawless and instantaneous. The moment Grant refused to step back and attempted to push past the security detail, the guards moved with terrifying efficiency.
Within three seconds, Grant was face down on the cold concrete of the plaza, his arms wrenched firmly behind his back, handcuffed. He thrashed and screamed, spewing venomous curses about his legacy and his rights, but the guards remained entirely silent, hauling him to his feet like a piece of discarded luggage.
I watched the security feed as a Chicago PD cruiser, pre-arranged by Marcus to be waiting just around the corner, pulled up to the curb. The officers didn't ask questions; they had been fully briefed on the high-profile restraining order. They shoved Grant into the back of the cruiser and drove away.
The entire incident lasted less than two minutes. The corporate plaza returned to its normal, bustling calm.
Jonathan walked into my office, having watched the feed from his own terminal. He let out a long breath. "He couldn't even last six hours on parole."
"He thought the rules still didn't apply to him," I noted, turning away from the window and sitting back down at my desk. "He thought his mere presence would force me to capitulate. He truly never understood who I am."
"What happens now?" Jonathan asked.
"Now, the federal judge revokes his parole," I stated smoothly, opening a new file on my computer. "He violated a federal protective order within hours of his release. He will be sent back to the penitentiary for the remainder of his suspended sentence. And when he eventually gets out again, he will know with absolute certainty that this perimeter is lethal."
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I looked at the framed photograph of Lily on my desk. She was smiling brightly, holding a yellow flower in the garden. I had promised myself that she would never know the fear of a toxic man controlling her life.
Grant Vale had tried to break my fortress, and he had shattered against the walls. He was officially exiled, permanently erased from our reality. The chapter of my life involving him was violently, conclusively closed.
