Chapter 26 - The Broken Patriarch | The gates of the Vance estate creaked open like the entrance to a forgotten tomb. Once a symbol of ultimate wealth and political influence, the sprawling mansion now looked overgrown, its grand driveway lined with unmarked federal vehicles.
I stepped out of the SUV, surrounded by Marcus and three armed bodyguards. The cold wind bit at my face, carrying the scent of pine and decay.
Inside, the grand foyer was dimly lit. Dust covers draped over expensive Italian furniture. At the end of the hall, sitting in a leather wingback chair beside a cold fireplace, was Richard Vance.
He had aged ten years in ten months. The sharp, immaculate patriarch was gone, replaced by a hollow man with sunken eyes and graying skin.
"Claire," he croaked, his voice like gravel. "You come to gloat over the ruins?"
"I came to give you one last chance to live out the rest of your pathetic life in a prison cell, Richard," I said, standing a few feet away from him, my arms crossed.
He let out a dry, rattling laugh. "You think you've won because you took my name off the building? You took everything I built for my family, Claire. My son is in a federal penitentiary. My wife is ruined. Do you really think I care about living?"
"I know about Aegis Protocol," I said bluntly.
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Richard’s laughter cut off instantly. His pale eyes flicked up to meet mine, a flash of the old, dangerous predator returning for a brief second.
"Then you know your time is up," he whispered.
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