Chapter 9 - The Financial Guillotine
The moment shattered before their lips could meet.
"Don Dominic!" Arthur’s urgent shout echoed from the war room. "The decryption is complete. The Swiss gateway is unlocked!"
Dominic pulled back slowly, his eyes holding Evelyn’s for a breathless second before his expression snapped back into command mode. "Let's finish this," he said, offering his hand to pull her up.
They hurried back to the central console. On the screen, a massive digital transfer matrix stood armed, flashing red and green indicators.
"Vincent’s accounts are mirrored across twelve private banks in Zurich, Grand Cayman, and Singapore," Arthur explained rapidly. "David set up an automated script. Once we input the authorization codes, the system executes simultaneous liquidation orders, wiring the entire balance into the untraceable charity foundation David established under Lily’s blind trust."
"Lily's trust?" Evelyn asked, stunned.
"David wanted your daughter to be protected forever," Arthur nodded. "Vincent will have zero liquid assets. Furthermore, the script triggers an automatic alert to Interpol and the federal treasury detailing seven years of Vincent’s money laundering operations."
"What about his supply lines?" Dominic asked.
Arthur typed furiously. "I just intercepted an encrypted dispatch. Vincent anticipated this. He has a black-market arms and narcotics shipment docking at Pier 42 at 3:00 AM. It’s worth sixty million dollars in street value. Vincent intends to pay his mercenary army directly from that shipment's proceeds."
Dominic checked his watch. It was 2:15 AM.
"He's doubling down on the docks," Dominic said coldly. "If he secures that shipment, he can hold the city in a bloody guerrilla war for months."
"Then we cut off both heads of the snake at once," Evelyn said, stepping up to the console. Her voice was firm, devoid of hesitation. "Drain the accounts now, Arthur. Let him watch his empire evaporate while he stands on that pier waiting for cargo that won't save him."
Dominic looked at her with fierce pride. "You heard her, Arthur. Execute the transfer."
Arthur hit the master confirmation key.
On the screen, the counters began rolling down at dizzying speed.
*$2,418,920,400.00... $1,800,000,000.00... $950,000,000.00... $0.00.*
A green banner flashed across all screens: **TRANSFERS COMPLETED. ALL ACCOUNTS FROZEN AND DRAINED.**
"It's done," Arthur laughed, shaking his head in awe. "Vincent is officially broke. Every credit line, every private jet, every security retainer just bounced across four continents."
Dominic strapped on his combat harness, sliding two fresh magazines into his vest. "Marco, assemble our strike team. We move on Pier 42. It’s time to settle my father’s debt."
"I'm coming with you," Evelyn stated immediately.
Dominic turned to her, his jaw firm. "No, Evelyn. Pier 42 is going to be a slaughterhouse. You stay here with Lily. This bunker is impenetrable from the outside."
"Vincent knows David was clever," Evelyn argued, stepping closer. "If he realizes the accounts are drained, he will know you’re coming to the docks. What if it’s a trap?"
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"Then he trapped himself in a cage with me," Dominic answered, his gaze burning with dark confidence. He took her hands in his, squeezing them gently. "Stay here where she is safe. Wait for me. I will come back for you, Evelyn. I swear it."
***