Chapter 11 - FORTY FLOORS ABOVE THE CITY
The high-rise belonged to a bankrupt Moretti development company. Forty floors of concrete and exposed steel towered above the Hudson River.
Claire arrived carrying a case filled with copied files. Ethan and federal agents entered through a lower service tunnel.
Vanessa waited near the open edge of the fortieth floor. Wind tore at her red coat. Nathan sat tied to a support column, blood running from his forehead.
“You ruined everything,” Vanessa said.
“You never had anything,” Claire replied. “Victor was using you.”
Vanessa laughed. “Victor is my father-in-law in every way that matters. Julian and I were going to own Moretti Global.”
“Julian is your brother.”
The words struck her like ice.
Claire showed her Samuel’s file proving Victor fathered Julian during an affair with Vanessa’s mother.
Vanessa stared at the pages. “That’s impossible.”
“Victor knew. He let you plan a future with your own half brother because you were useful.”
For the first time, Vanessa’s confidence cracked.
Nathan pulled against the rope. “Let Claire go.”
Vanessa swung the gun toward him. “You still defend her after she destroyed you?”
“No. I destroyed us.”
Claire’s breath caught.
Vanessa’s finger tightened on the trigger.
Ethan stepped from behind a concrete pillar. “Drop it.”
Gunfire exploded.
The bullet struck a steel beam. Ethan fired once, hitting Vanessa’s shoulder.
She stumbled backward and grabbed Claire’s coat.
Both women slid toward the open edge.
Claire caught a cable with one hand. Vanessa dangled below her, gripping Claire’s wrist.
“Help me!” Vanessa screamed.
Claire strained against the wind.
Then she saw Julian emerge behind Ethan with a knife.
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And Ethan never saw him coming.
* * *
