The Echoes of Obsidian Ridge
CHAPTER 10:
“So they staged their own abduction,” Julian realized, pacing the creaky floorboards of the cabin. “They wanted Vance’s team to breach the estate so they could track who Vance sent to execute the order.”
“Yes,” Maya said, her eyes scanning the final page of the notebook. “And my mother left the full digital decryption key for The Citadel’s master financial ledger inside this flash drive I took from the desk. It documents thirty years of political bribery, illegal surveillance, and corporate assassinations.”
She looked up at Julian, her face filled with deep sorrow. “Julian… your uncle isn’t just a corrupt politician who leveraged my parents. He’s the chairman of The Citadel’s executive council. He ordered the hit on my biological parents in 1999.”
Julian stopped pacing, staring at his hands in horror. “All those years he funded my music education… my record releases… my tour logistics… it was all laundered money taken from the families his syndicate destroyed.”
“You didn’t know, Julian,” Maya said gently, standing up and taking his hands in hers. “You are not responsible for his crimes.”
“No, but I helped build his public image,” Julian said bitterly, his voice tightening with newfound resolve. “Every time I stood on stage with his campaign logo behind me, I gave him credibility. I’m going to help you end this, Maya. No matter what it costs.”
