Chapter 10
The sudden silence inside the armored SUV was deafening following the abrupt termination of the federal call. The digital blue light on the console faded to black, leaving the cabin bathed in the soft, ambient glow of the passing highway lights.
Jamal sat frozen, his eyes wide as he stared at his uncle. Threatening a federal agent on an active line wasn't just bold; it was practically a declaration of war against the United States government. The fifteen-year-old realized the stakes had escalated far beyond internal syndicate disputes.
"Uncle Elijah," Jamal whispered hesitantly, his voice tight. "If the Feds know we have Preston, they will use that to come after us directly. They'll issue warrants. They'll raid the estates."
Elijah leaned back comfortably into the plush leather seating, completely unfazed. He slowly unbuttoned the top button of his crisp white shirt, revealing more of the sharp, refined tattoos decorating his collarbone. He looked completely relaxed, exactly like a man who already had the entire board mapped out in his head.
"They won't raid anything, Jamal," Elijah said smoothly, his voice dropping into a terrifying, measured cadence. "Agent Vance is desperate. He’s operating a rogue task force off the books, trying to build a RICO case without securing proper warrants. If he had legal authority to track my daughter, he wouldn't have used a terrified cousin to plant a black-market transponder."
"How do you know that?" Jamal asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Because I own the judge who signs Vance's warrants," Elijah stated coldly, stating the terrifying truth of his absolute power. "Vance is running out of time and funding. He tried to force my hand by using Preston. It was a desperate, sloppy move. And sloppy moves in our world are fatal."
Elijah looked down at Zoe, who stirred slightly in her sleep but didn't wake. The soft, glowing golden-brown skin of her face looked incredibly peaceful, completely disconnected from the violent empire her father ran to protect her.
"The Feds are going to track Preston’s vehicle," Elijah continued, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. "But Preston isn't in that vehicle. My men transferred him to a commercial shipping container ten minutes ago. The SUV they are currently tracking is completely empty, and it is driving directly into the deep harbor."
Jamal swallowed hard. "And Preston?"
"Preston is currently on a cargo ship bound for international waters," Elijah said softly. "He will spend the rest of his very short life locked in a metal box, wondering why he ever thought he could betray his blood."
The SUV slowed down as it approached the massive, fortified iron gates of the primary Ashford estate. Heavy security spotlights instantly bathed the vehicle in bright light as armed guards quickly verified the plates before opening the massive barriers.
"We are entering a new phase, Jamal," Elijah said, his voice dropping to a low, lethal hum as the gates closed heavily behind them, sealing them securely inside the fortress. "The government has shown its hand. They are willing to target children. The old rules of engagement are officially dead."
Elijah gently scooped the sleeping Zoe into his strong arms, careful not to jostle her injured leg, as the SUV came to a smooth halt in front of the grand mansion. He looked at his nephew, his sharp, intimidating eyes burning with a dark, unyielding fire.
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"We are going to lock this city down," Elijah promised softly. "We are going to find every informant, every rat, and every federal asset hiding in my territory. And we are going to exterminate them."
He stepped out of the vehicle into the cool evening air, carrying his daughter into the fortress. The war had officially arrived, but Elijah Ashford was perfectly prepared to drown the world in blood to ensure his family survived it.
