Chapter 8 - Julian's Bargain
Julian was waiting when Sienna returned to Vantage.
Security had detained him in the lobby.
"I need five minutes."
"You have thirty seconds."
"I can explain Northstar."
"Twenty-five."
He glanced at the guards.
"Alone."
"No."
"Sienna, if you don't listen, you're going to lose Vantage."
She stopped.
Julian saw that he had her attention.
"My father has been moving money through Northstar for years."
"I know."
"No, you don't."
He lowered his voice.
"Northstar wasn't created by my father."
"Who created it?"
"Your father."
Sienna's face remained still.
Inside, everything fractured.
Julian continued.
"I found documents in Dad's private office. That's how I learned who you were."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because David found me first."
Kira stepped forward.
"What did Halden offer you?"
"Protection."
"From whom?"
Julian laughed without humor.
"That's the question, isn't it?"
Sienna studied him.
"Why transfer Richardson assets into Vantage?"
"David told me it would protect them from whoever controls the Carter Trust."
"Vantage is connected to the trust."
"Exactly."
Sienna frowned.
Julian reached into his jacket.
Security reacted immediately.
He slowly removed a folded piece of paper.
"Relax."
Kira took it.
A photocopy.
A handwritten agreement dated nineteen years earlier.
Thomas Carter.
Charles Richardson.
David Halden.
Three signatures.
The agreement referenced something called Project Meridian.
"What is Meridian?" Sienna asked.
Julian shook his head.
"I don't know."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I don't care what you believe."
For the first time, Julian looked genuinely exhausted.
"My parents are broke. Richardson Maritime is collapsing. David disappeared. Federal investigators are asking questions."
He looked at Sienna.
"And somebody tried to kill my father last night."
Silence.
"What?"
"His car brakes failed."
Kira's expression changed.
"Where is Charles?"
"Hospital."
Sienna stared at Julian.
He stepped closer.
"You wanted to destroy my family."
"No. Your family destroyed itself."
"Maybe."
May you like
His voice dropped.
"But now somebody else wants to make sure none of us live long enough to explain why."
