Chapter 5 - THE TACTICAL AMBUSH
The grand ballroom of the Hawthorne Club was supposed to be the venue for Adrian’s annual charity gala, a glittering display of old-money luxury.
Instead, the three hundred high-society guests sat in a suffocating, terrified silence as the front doors were secured by federal agents.
Adrian stood near the stage, his custom-tailored blue suit looking empty on his shivering frame as he watched the tactical officers enter.
"This is an absolute farce!" he shouted, his voice cracking into a high-pitched, desperate whine as he tried to reach for his phone.
"I am the primary trustee of the Vale legacy, and my legal team will have this entire district locked in a civil suit before the sun sets!"
"Your legal team is currently being processed at the federal detention center, Adrian," I said, my voice carrying a quiet, unyielding weight.
I stepped onto the polished floor of the ballroom, my black judicial robes replaced by a sharp, tailored dark wool suit, my posture rigid.
Behind me walked General Mercer, his decorated uniform catching the light of the massive crystal chandeliers, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Evelyn?" Adrian gasped, taking a panicked step backward as his mother fell against the table, her champagne glass shattering.
"You... you're just a retired judge, you don't have the active enforcement authority to execute a raid on my property!"
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"I am the chief active judge of this federal district, Adrian," I whispered, my green eyes locking onto his face with a freezing clarity.
"And the wiretap warrant I signed six hours ago has captured every single order you gave to the precinct to silence my daughter."
