Chapter 67 - The Canadian Knock
A cold draft rushed into the vault as the heavy steel door creaked open an inch.
Campbell didn't come in. Instead, a tall man in a tailored charcoal trench coat stepped over the threshold, his leather-gloved hands holding a suppressed tactical pistol at his side. Behind him stood two broad-shouldered men in heavy winter parkas, their faces shadowed by fur-lined hoods.
"Fascinating family reunion," the man in the trench coat said, his voice bearing a smooth, cultured French-Canadian accent. "Arthur always said the Vance women possessed remarkable survival instincts. Though I suspect your timing could use some refinement."
Eleanor gasped, shrinking back against the filing cabinets. "Lucian... you weren't supposed to know about this facility."
"Arthur was very thorough on his deathbed, Madame Vance," Lucian replied smoothly, stepping deeper into the vault. His eyes lingered on Lily for a brief, chilling moment before settling on the documents in my hand. "He made sure to liquidate his debts before the federal authorities could freeze the assets. And under Section 12 of the surety agreement, the collateral must be secured in the event of default."
"Campbell," I whispered, panic rising like bile in my throat.
"Your ex-marshal friend is currently asleep in the snow upstairs," Lucian said dismissively. "He put up an admirable fight, but three against one in a blizzard is poor arithmetic. Now, Emma... the documents, if you please. And the girl."
May you like
"Over my dead body," I said, shielding Lily behind me, my muscles tensing for a fight I knew I couldn't win with bare hands.
"That can easily be arranged," Lucian sighed, raising the pistol level with my forehead. "Though Arthur promised us that the child’s legal guardian would sign the surrender voluntarily to avoid probate delays. If you sign, you walk out of here alive. If you refuse, we take the girl anyway, and your mother can explain your tragic disappearance to the state troopers."
