Chapter 10 - THE FALL OF THE CORRUPT
The ballroom erupted into sheer chaos.
Gasps echoed from every corner of the room.
Politicians stood up from their tables, knocking over wine glasses.
Journalists frantically typed on their phones, broadcasting the live stream across national networks.
Senator Sterling stared at the screen in utter horror.
His face drained of all color.
"This... this is a deepfake!" Sterling shrieked into the microphone, his voice cracking desperately.
"Cyberterrorism! Don't believe a word of it!"
Nathaniel stepped closer to the stage.
His dark eyes locked onto the sweating senator.
"You ordered the hit on my estate," Nathaniel said, his voice carrying clearly across the silent hall.
"You used my fiancée as a pawn."
"And you terrified an innocent seven-year-old child."
"Guards!" Sterling yelled frantically to the side doors.
"Shoot him! Shoot him now!"
No one moved.
The FBI agents looked at the projection screen, then at Sterling, and slowly stepped backward.
Federal corruption was one thing.
A live broadcast of treason was career suicide.
Marcus stepped forward, placing a heavy steel hand on Sterling’s shoulder.
"The party’s over, Senator," Marcus whispered.
Sterling lunged for the panic button beneath the podium.
Before his finger could press it, Nathaniel’s fist connected with Sterling’s jaw.
A sickening crunch echoed through the microphone.
Sterling crashed backward over the podium, tumbling onto the floor in a heap of shattered pride and broken teeth.
Flashing red and blue lights suddenly filled the tall arched windows of the ballroom.
Not federal task force lights.
Interpol and internal affairs units.
Led by Commander Vance, Alma’s estranged brother—who had secretly been building an independent corruption case against Sterling for years.
Commander Vance stepped through the double doors, flanked by uniformed officers.
He looked down at the bleeding senator.
Then looked up at Nathaniel.
"Mr. Rook," Commander Vance nodded respectfully.
"We'll take it from here."
Nathaniel adjusted his cuffs.
He turned his back on the disgraced senator.
"Make sure he stays in a maximum-security cell," Nathaniel instructed.
"If he breathes fresh air again, I'll hold you personally responsible."
Commander Vance saluted slightly.
"Done."
Nathaniel walked back down the center aisle of the ballroom.
The elite guests parted before him like the Red Sea.
Fear and awe warring in their expressions.
He exited the Grand Plaza Hotel into the cool night air.
Where his armored SUV waited by the curb.
Alma stood by the rear door, holding Elodie’s hand.
Elodie looked up as her father approached.
"Did you fix the bad men, Daddy?" the little girl asked softly.
Nathaniel knelt down on one knee in front of his daughter.
He gently brushed a stray curl from her forehead.
"Yes, little bird," Nathaniel smiled softly.
"The bad men are gone for good."
Elodie threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder.
"Can we go home now?"
"We're going home," Nathaniel promised.
As they climbed into the vehicle and drove away into the glittering night, Nathaniel finally felt the tension leave his shoulders.
The empire was secure.
His daughter was safe.
The war was over.
May you like
Or so he thought.
Cliffhanger: In the rearview mirror, a single black motorcycle began tailing their SUV, its headlight shining like a cyclops eye in the dark, driven by a shadowy figure wearing a familiar silver ring.
