Chapter 10 - The Ultimate Choice
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Vargas stepped fully into the ruined study, two of his heavily armed men flanking him, their flashlights cutting through the smoke. The beams illuminated the blood-soaked Persian rug, the wounded Marcus, the terrified Fiona, and the pregnant Serena kneeling on the floor.
Finally, the lights settled on Silas.
“Where is the money, Vance?” Vargas asked, his eyes narrowing as he saw the smashed laptop on the floor.
“The money is gone,” Silas replied smoothly. “Transferred into a dozen untraceable ghost accounts across Europe. You couldn't crack them if you had ten years and an army of hackers.”
Vargas’s face contorted in rage. He raised his rifle, pointing it directly at Silas’s chest. “You think I won't kill you for that? You stole twelve million dollars from my cartel!”
“I didn't steal anything,” Silas said, not flinching at the barrel of the gun. “Matthias Dre stole from you. He lost your money. I simply secured the remainder as an insurance policy. A policy that guarantees my people walk out of here alive.”
Silas pointed to Matthias, who was dragging himself out from under the sofa, his bespoke suit ruined with dust and his own urine.
“There is the man who stole from you,” Silas continued. He pointed to Fiona. “And there is the woman who helped him lie to you. They are yours, Vargas. Do whatever you want with them. But the pregnant woman and my men leave with me.”
Matthias’s eyes widened in absolute horror. He scrambled across the floor on his hands and knees, reaching for Serena.
“Serena! Please!” Matthias begged, grabbing the hem of her blood-stained maternity dress. “Don't let him do this! Tell him to give the money back! I’m your husband! I love you!”
Serena looked down at the man she had promised to spend her life with. She looked at his pathetic, tear-streaked face.
She didn't see the charming banker who had wooed her. She saw the man who had bought a ninety-five-thousand-dollar diamond necklace for his mistress while telling Serena they needed to budget for the nursery. She saw the man who had brought his pregnant wife to a party knowing a cartel hit squad was coming to slaughter them all.
Serena gently, but firmly, pulled her dress out of his trembling hands.
“You didn't love me, Matthias,” Serena said, her voice echoing with a cold, terrifying finality. “I was just a prop for your public image. A respectable nurse to make the corrupt banker look human.”
She reached onto her left hand, twisting the heavy diamond engagement ring and the gold wedding band off her finger. She dropped them onto the floor. They landed with a soft clink next to Matthias’s trembling knees.
“We are done,” Serena said.
May you like
She turned away from him and looked up at Silas. “I’m ready to leave.”
Vargas stared at Serena, a slow, dark smile spreading across his face. He lowered his rifle. “I respect a woman with ice in her veins. Very well, Silas. You keep the money. I keep the traitor. Take your people and get out of my sight before I change my mind.”
