PART 6: THE RETURN OF THE BLACKWELL NAME

By midnight, my father’s private security detail had transformed our estate into an operational war room.

Richard Carter sat at the head of the oak table, his eyes burning with a fierce, protective anger I hadn't seen since the night of the charity gala.

Federal investigators stood around the perimeter, their laptops tracking the digital footprints of the hack.

"We traced the server origin," the lead agent announced, projecting a map onto the wall monitor.

"The breach didn't come from a hidden dark-web network."

"It was executed from a corporate penthouse in downtown Manhattan."

The agent pressed a key, revealing the registration details of the firm that owned the penthouse.

Blackwell Vanguard Holdings.

I stared at the screen in disbelief.

"How is that possible?" I asked, my voice shaking. "All of Victor’s assets were seized by the federal government."

"Victor’s assets were," my father said, his voice dropping into a dangerous rumble.

"But Victor had a younger brother. Damian Blackwell."

"Damian cut ties with the family twenty years ago, moving his operations to Europe."

"He let Victor take the fall because Victor was sloppy. But Damian is a completely different kind of monster."

My father stood up, walking toward the window overlooking the dark gardens where Leo was sleeping under heavy guard.

"Damian doesn't care about Victor’s criminal syndicates," Richard murmured.

"He cares about the pride of the Blackwell name."

"He believes Carter Global destroyed his family's honor, and he has returned to take everything we own."

Suddenly, the house phone rang.

The lead agent nodded, tracing the line immediately as my father picked it up.

"Richard," Damian Blackwell’s voice filtered through the speaker, calm and mocking.

"I see you've increased your security."

"A pointless expense."

"Tomorrow morning at nine, I am initiating a hostile takeover of Carter Global."

"I already own forty-two percent of your public shares."

My father didn't flinch.

"You don't have the leverage to force a buyout, Damian."

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"Don't I?" Damian laughed smoothly.

"Check the morning news, old man. Your reputation is about to collapse."