Chapter 26
"I don't owe you anything," Bennett stated smoothly, his handsome face carved into a mask of restrained fury. "Sterling Industries has been liquidated. If you have grievances regarding outstanding favors, take them up with Robert in his motel room." "Robert is a broken, obsolete tool," the smooth voice replied. "You, however, are the CEO of Apex Holdings. You possess the infrastructure we require. Silas was foolish enough to believe we funded his little ambush out of loyalty. We funded it to test your security capabilities. You passed." Bennett glanced across the room. Josephine was laughing, blissfully unaware of the conversation, her rosy cheeks flushed as she played. The primal instinct to protect his child flared violently in Bennett's chest. "If you ever send armed men near my daughter again," Bennett whispered, his voice dropping to a terrifying register, "I will hunt you down and dismantle your entire organization piece by piece." "A beautiful sentiment," the voice mocked gently. "But you are no longer playing against entitled, soft aristocrats who laugh at wooden toys. You have stepped into a much darker arena, Mr. Sterling. We will be in touch with our demands very soon." The line went dead with a hollow, metallic click. Bennett slowly lowered the phone, his mind racing through a thousand tactical calculations. He had sought revenge against his abusive family, but in doing so, he had awakened a sleeping leviathan.
