Chapter 9 - The Cornered Beast
Standing in the doorway, soaked to the bone and completely unhinged, was Arthur Pendelton. In his right hand, gripped tightly and trembling, was a heavy snub-nosed revolver. His eyes were bloodshot, his tailored suit ruined by the storm.
"Stay away from her!" Arthur screamed, pointing the gun wildly between Julian and Hector. "You took everything from me! My company, my reputation, my loans—recalled in an hour! You destroyed me!"
"Father! Put the gun down!" Clara shrieked, backing away toward the wall.
"Shut up, Clara!" Arthur roared, his sanity visibly slipping away. "He lied to you! He's a Vance! He used you to get to my board of directors! He engineered the entire collapse!"
Hector didn't even blink. He stood calmly, adjusting his gray fedora. "Put the weapon away, Arthur. You are making a fool of yourself in front of your daughter."
"I have nothing left to lose!" Arthur screamed, locking his sight onto Julian. "If I'm going down, I'm taking the prince with me!"
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Julian stepped directly between Arthur’s gun and Clara. His eyes narrowed, all warmth vanishing, replaced by the lethal tactical focus he had been trained to possess since childhood.
"You have one second to lower that weapon, Arthur," Julian said, his voice deadly quiet. "Or you won't survive the night."
