Chapter 15 - THE MAN BEHIND NORTHLINE
Victor Vale looked exactly as Emily remembered him: gray hair, expensive coat, and a calm face.
He had the kind of soft voice that never needed to rise.
"Put the gun down," Victor told Grant.
Grant laughed.
"You first."
Victor was not visibly armed.
"Dad, tell me he is lying."
Emily understood before Sloane did.
"He isn't."
Sloane's eyes filled.
"You hired Grant to get close to her?"
Victor's expression barely moved.
"I encouraged a useful relationship."
"You used me."
"I gave you access."
"To her husband."
"To the company."
Sloane looked sick.
"Welcome to business, sweetheart."
"You became careless."
"I became tired of working for you."
"She was supposed to be out of the way."
Emily's wire transmitted every word.
Outside, Velez listened.
Victor stepped closer.
"Give me the bracelet."
Emily held it tight.
"Why did you sabotage my father's project?"
"Because he refused to sell."
"So you made him desperate."
"I made him realistic."
"You stole fourteen years from my family."
"Your father signed the contract."
"After you created the crisis."
"History remembers signatures, not pressure."
"Robert trusted you."
"Robert was sentimental."
Victor looked at Emily's belly.
"And now sentiment has created another complication."
Emily's blood ran cold.
"My baby."
"Your child triggers the reversion clause."
Victor's tone remained clinical.
"Which means Northline loses rights worth millions."
Sloane lowered her gun slightly.
"You knew Grant was going to crash her car."
"Dad."
Victor noticed.
"Don't."
Grant fired first.
The bullet hit Victor in the shoulder.
Sloane screamed.
Velez shouted after him.
Victor collapsed against the wall.
Sloane dropped her gun and fell beside her father.
Emily ripped the tape from Evelyn's wrists.
"Mom."
May you like
"I'm okay."
Grant had reached Emily's boat, the one with a locked emergency fuel canister and a flare gun.
