Chapter 7 - The Trap Closes
Sloan’s face turned paper-white as her own recorded voice slammed against her ears.
"No! Turn it off! Turn it off!" she screamed, covering her ears.
Preston tried to bolt toward the side exit near the kitchen, but Dominic Vance stepped out of the shadows, blocking the doorway with two imposing security guards. Dominic calmly shoved Preston backward, sending him sprawling across the polished marble floor directly at the feet of the state troopers.
Steel handcuffs snapped onto Preston’s wrists with a loud, final click!
"Vincent! Tell them this is a lie!" Margaret shrieked from the stage as female agents escorted her down the stairs. "Vincent, we are family!"
I walked slowly down the central aisle, hands tucked casually in my tuxedo pockets, stopping directly in front of Sloan, who was shaking violently, tears ruining her expensive makeup.
"Vincent... please," Sloan sobbed, dropping to her knees, reaching for my trousers. "I was confused! Preston threatened me! He made me do it! The baby... think of our baby!"
I looked down at her with complete, unyielding coldness.
I pulled a sealed white envelope from my jacket and tossed it onto the floor in front of her.
"That's the DNA panel from Tuesday's blood draw," I said softly, my voice carrying clearly across the silent ballroom. "The baby is Preston's. A ninety-nine point nine percent match."
Sloan froze, her jaw dropping open in total despair.
"I paid off your mother's twelve million dollar mortgage three weeks ago, Sloan," I continued, leaning down to whisper in her ear so only she could hear. "Which means I now own the Ashford estate in Beacon Hill. Eviction notices were served to your household staff an hour ago. You, your mother, and your lover have nowhere left to go except a federal penitentiary."
State troopers hoisted Sloan to her feet, dragging her alongside Preston and Margaret toward the waiting police vans outside.
As Preston was marched past me, he glared at me with wild, bloodshot eyes.
"How?!" Preston spat, blood trickling from his lip where he had hit the floor. "You were just a thug! You were supposed to sign the papers!"
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I looked Preston dead in the eyes, adjusting my silk bow tie.
"You forgot the golden rule of law, Preston," I said calmly. "Never play chess with a man who owns the board."
