Chapter 8 - The Cornered Rat"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Ethan’s voice screamed through the speaker, so loud and panicked that the audio distorted. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MY ACCOUNTS?!"
In the background, I could hear sirens, shouting men, and the sound of heavy boots running across concrete. He was at the syndicate’s main logistics warehouse on the docks.
"I audited you, Ethan," I replied calmly, leaning back in my leather chair and resting my hand over my baby bump. "I pulled your shell company filings from Delaware, cross-referenced them with my father's ledger, and forwarded the complete file to the federal prosecutor's office."
"You... you little bitch!" Ethan gasped, panting frantically. "They frozen everything! The bank locked the payroll accounts! The Moretti bosses are saying I brought the feds down on them! They think I betrayed them!"
"You did betray them, Ethan," I said, my voice dripping with cold satisfaction. "Your arrogance and your greed brought down their entire fifteen-year network. How does it feel to know that the 'clumsy, emotional' girl you hit at her baby shower just ended your career?"
"I will kill you!" Ethan roared, his voice cracking with pure, unadulterated terror and rage. "I swear to God, Chloe, I will find you and I will—"
BOOM!
The sound of heavy doors being kicked open echoed through his phone line, followed by the booming voices of federal agents.
"FBI! DOWN ON THE GROUND! DON'T MOVE!"
"Chloe! Wait—" Ethan screamed.
"DROP THE PHONE! GET ON YOUR KNEES!"
The sound of a scuffle echoed through the line, followed by the clatter of Ethan’s phone hitting the concrete floor. Muffled grunts, the click of steel handcuffs, and the loud reading of his Miranda rights filled the speaker.
My mother reached over and quietly clicked the red end-call button.
Silence returned to the room.
I sat back in my chair, taking a deep, clean breath. The man who had terrorized me for two years, who had made me feel small, weak, and defenseless, was officially going away for a very long time.
My mother walked over, pulling me into a fierce, warm embrace. Tears of relief spilled down my cheeks, soaking into her sweater.
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"You did it, Chloe," Elena whispered, her voice thick with pride. "Your father would have been so proud of you."
"We did it, Mom," I corrected softly, holding her tight.
