Chapter 6 - The Broken Covenant
Senator Vance stepped forward, his heavy foot crashing onto the elevated altar platform.
"That's enough!" the Senator roared, dropping all pretense of political diplomacy. "Julian, you are an employee of Sterling Financial, a firm whose primary investor is my political action committee. You own nothing! You are nothing without this marriage! If you walk down that aisle with those street rats, I will have your assets frozen by nightfall. You will be indicted for corporate embezzlement before the sun rises tomorrow."
Julian looked at the old titan standing before him. Senator Vance’s face was red, his jowls quivering with absolute authority. For five years, Julian had bowed to this man, worked for his firm, managed his hidden offshore accounts, and swallowed his pride in exchange for access to the highest corridors of power.
He had believed Evelyn was his partner. He had believed they were building a life together on the ashes of his past tragedy.
"You frozen my heart four years ago, Arthur," Julian said softly. "Freezing my bank accounts won't change a damn thing."
Julian turned his back on the altar, on the archbishop who was currently pale and pressing himself against the carved wooden wall, and on the two hundred elite members of high society staring at him in stunned silence.
He knelt down in front of Lily once more.
"Lily," Julian said, his voice gentle, stripping away all the edge and violence. "Can you walk?"
The little girl nodded fast, her eyes shining through her dirt and tears. She hugged the baby wrapped in the pink blanket tighter against her small chest. "I can run, Daddy."
"Good," Julian whispered. He reached out and slipped off his heavy, uncomfortable tuxedo jacket, letting the thousand-dollar piece of black wool drop onto the dirty floor. He rolled up the sleeves of his crisp white dress shirt, revealing lean, muscular forearms. "Because we are going to run."
"Stop them!" Evelyn screamed behind him, her voice cracking into a terrifying roar of pure rage. "Do not let them leave this building!"
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The four tactical operators in charcoal suits instantly vaulted over the communion rail, moving toward the aisle.
Julian didn't hesitate. He grabbed a heavy iron candelabra standing beside the altar—a five-foot-tall piece of brass holding seven burning white candles—and swung it with all his strength across the marble space.
