Chapter 6
The drive back to Bennett’s private penthouse in the city was completely silent. Josephine had fallen asleep in the back seat, exhausted by the emotional trauma of the evening. The city lights blurred past the tinted windows of the SUV, casting fleeting shadows across Bennett’s face. The adrenaline of the confrontation had receded, replaced entirely by a cold, calculating focus.
He had spent the last five years meticulously building his own empire, separate from the bloated, corrupt legacy of his grandfather, Robert. While his family believed he was simply a rebellious outcast playing at business, Bennett had quietly acquired the very supply lines, politicians, and ports that Robert relied on. He had been waiting for the perfect moment to completely sever the rotting head of his family tree. Tonight, they had handed him the axe.
Bennett pulled into the secure parking garage of his high-rise building. He gently lifted the sleeping Josephine from her car seat, careful not to wake her, and carried her up the private elevator.
The sprawling apartment was a masterpiece of modern minimalism, a stark contrast to the cluttered opulence of his grandfather’s estate. It was quiet, secure, and entirely his own.
He carried Josephine into her bedroom, gently laying her down on the plush mattress. He removed her flats and tucked the duvet securely around her shoulders. He stood by her bed for a long time, watching her chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm.
"I won't let them touch you," Bennett whispered into the dark room.
He walked out of the bedroom, moving toward his expansive home office. The room was dominated by a massive mahogany desk and banks of glowing computer monitors.
As he sat down in his leather chair, the secure phone on his desk vibrated. It was a video call from Marcus. Bennett accepted the call. The screen flared to life, revealing Marcus sitting in a dimly lit server room.
"Status," Bennett demanded.
"It's a bloodbath, Boss," Marcus reported, a grin breaking across his stoic face. "The European accounts are completely drained. The shell companies Robert uses to launder money have been flagged and frozen by the feds. Clara's trust fund has been liquidated and rerouted through three dark-web servers. It's gone."
Bennett leaned back in his chair. "And Silas?"
"Silas is currently in the emergency room getting his nose reconstructed," Marcus said. "I took the liberty of hacking the hospital's billing department. His premium health insurance policy was canceled thirty minutes ago. He's going to have to pay out of pocket, assuming his credit cards still work."
"They don't," Bennett stated with absolute certainty. "Cancel the family's primary lines of credit immediately. Let them try to buy a coffee tomorrow morning and find out they are completely destitute."
"It's already done," Marcus confirmed. "By 8:00 AM tomorrow, Robert Ashford will no longer be a millionaire. He will be millions of dollars in debt."
"Good," Bennett said softly. "Keep monitoring the situation. If anyone tries to flee the city, let me know. I want them to feel the walls closing in."
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"Understood, Boss," Marcus nodded, cutting the connection.
Bennett stared at the blank screen, the silence of the penthouse pressing in. He had just destroyed his entire family with a few phone calls. There was no going back now.
