Chapter 10 - The Dust on the Marble
Twenty-four hours later, the storm had finally cleared over Manhattan.
Samuel Vance stood on the sidewalk outside L'Aura Nuptials, dressed once again in a simple, dark wool coat, his hands resting in his pockets. The boutique was closed, a heavy steel shutter pulled down over the display window where the wedding gowns had hung.
Ethan walked up beside him, holding a leather briefcase containing the finalized purchase agreement for the Sterling assets.
"The federal marshals finished seizing their estate an hour ago," Ethan said. "Julianna refused to sign the public statement."
"She will," Samuel said calmly, looking down at the concrete floor where the water had dried hours ago, leaving no trace behind. "When the hunger sets in, pride is always the first thing people trade for a meal."
Ethan looked down at his own bare left hand. The skin where the platinum ring had rested for six months was slightly paler than the rest of his finger, a tiny reminder of how close he had come to falling into the trap.
May you like
"What do we do now?" Ethan asked.
Samuel smiled, stepping off the curb into the bright afternoon sunlight. "Now we go back to work. There's a whole city full of monsters who think nobody's watching them."
