Chapter 17 - THE FATHER'S VOW|
"You thought you could exile my daughter to South America and destroy my family's shipping lines, Adrian?" Victor Cole continued smoothly over the screen. "You thought you could replace the Cole bloodline with a simple art restorer?"
Adrian stood up slowly from our table, his body radiating absolute death.
"Cut the feed, Marcus," Adrian commanded softly.
"We can't, boss!" Marcus panicked, tapping frantically on his phone. "They've locked down the hotel's entire electrical grid!"
"Do not bother turning off the screen, Adrian," Victor chortled darkly. "I am not calling from Europe. I am calling from the harbor three miles from your location."
The camera on the screen shifted, showing a massive cargo vessel docked at Pier 17. On the deck of the ship stood fifty heavily armed mercenaries, flanked by high-grade military hardware.
"You declared war on the Coles the night you threw Vanessa out," Victor declared, his voice rising with chilling authority. "The old alliance is dead. Tomorrow morning, every shipping lane, every contract, and every territory under Vale control will belong to me."
The digital screen went black, and the ballroom lights slammed back on at full brightness.
Chaos erupted in the ballroom as guests screamed and rushed for the exits.
Adrian didn't panic. He turned to me, his hands instantly cupping my face, his thumb smoothing over my cheekbone.
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"Marcus is taking you and Claire straight to the bunker at Vale House," Adrian said urgently.
"No," I said, grabbing his wrists tightly. "Victor Cole wants a war, Adrian. And we fight wars together now."
