Chapter 7 - CORNERED ON THE DOCK
"Marcus!" Lily called out, spinning around toward the boathouse entrance.
Before Marcus could respond, the heavy wooden doors swung open, framed by the dark silhouettes of three armed men in unmarked tactical gear.
Behind them stepped Richard, his corporate suit looking completely out of place against the wilderness surroundings.
"I was hoping we wouldn't have to do this out in the cold, Lily," Richard said, stepping into the shelter of the boathouse.
"Give me the key, and we can end this whole ugly business right now."
Marcus instantly stepped in front of Lily and Mia, his hand resting firmly on his sidearm under his jacket.
"You're out of your jurisdiction, counselor," Marcus warned, his voice cold and steady.
"This property is private, and you are currently committing aggravated trespassing."
"I don't care about trespassing," Richard said with a bitter laugh.
"Do you have any idea what happens to me if those ledgers reach the prosecutor's desk?"
"Eleanor will destroy me before the police even process the arrest warrant."
"You chose the wrong side, Richard," Lily said from behind Marcus, her voice ringing clear in the enclosed space.
"Julian trusted you for ten years, and you sold him out for a seat on the board."
"Julian was a dreamer who thought he could fix a multi-billion dollar empire with ethics!" Richard yelled, his composure finally breaking.
"Now give me the key!"
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One of the men behind Richard raised a silenced pistol, pointing it directly at Marcus.
At that exact moment, a sharp, deafening blast echoed across the lake as a high-powered engine roared into life just off the dock.
