Chapter 10 - The TrapWe did not give Daniel the ledger.

We gave him a copy.

A perfect copy.

Every page reproduced.

Every signature replicated.

But one detail had been changed.

A hidden tracking mark was embedded in the digital photographs.

If Daniel scanned the pages, we'd know where.

Marcus assembled a legal team.

Forensic accountants.

Federal prosecutors.

Investigators.

Everything moved simultaneously.

No threats.

No violence.

Only evidence.

By midnight, the first sealed warrants were ready.

But we still needed Noah.

We arranged the exchange.

An abandoned courthouse.

One hour.

Daniel arrived with six men.

Noah stood beside him.

The boy held a blue backpack.

I stepped from the darkness.

“Let him go.”

Daniel smiled.

“You first.”

I held up the replica ledger.

“Here.”

He took it.

He flipped through the pages.

Then laughed.

“You think I'm stupid?”

I said nothing.

Daniel looked at me.

“I always wondered why Lily's poor mechanic father never seemed afraid.”

“Maybe I wasn't.”

He stepped closer.

“You know what Victor used to say about you?”

I didn't answer.

“He said you were the most dangerous man he ever underestimated.”

I stared at him.

“And yet you married my daughter.”

Daniel's smile vanished.

“That was Victor's idea.”

The words hit me.

Lily's marriage.

The Vance family had selected her.

Maybe they had selected me too.

Daniel suddenly threw the ledger onto the ground.

“This is fake.”

Marcus's voice sounded through my earpiece.

“Now.”

Police lights exploded around the courthouse.

Vehicles surrounded the building.

Agents moved in.

Daniel pulled Noah close.

A gun appeared.

“Back away!”

Everything froze.

An agent shouted.

“Put the weapon down.”

Daniel held the gun near Noah.

“Anyone moves and the boy dies.”

I looked at Noah.

He wasn't crying.

He was watching Daniel.

Then the boy dropped the blue backpack.

It hit the ground.

Something metallic clanged inside.

Daniel glanced down.

That moment was enough.

Noah kicked him in the knee.

Daniel lost balance.

I moved.

The gun went off.

The bullet hit the ceiling.

Agents rushed forward.

Daniel was tackled.

Noah ran straight into my arms.

I caught him.

He buried his face against my chest.

“Are you Thomas?”

“Yes.”

“My mom said you would come.”

“Who is your mom?”

Noah whispered.

“Elena.”

I held him tighter.

Agents arrested Daniel.

But the night wasn't over.

Because when Marcus picked up the blue backpack, he found something inside.

A second ledger.

Not blue.

Black.

He opened it.

The first page contained a handwritten sentence.

If Thomas Carter has found this, then Victor is dead.

Marcus looked up.

“But Victor isn't dead,” I said.

He turned the page.

A recent photograph was attached.

Victor Vance.

Alive.

Standing beside a private jet.

And beneath the photograph was a date.

Three days ago.

Then a destination.

Buenos Aires.

Marcus stared at me.

“Thomas.”

“What?”

“We've been chasing the Vance family.”

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He closed the book.

“But the Vances may have been running from someone else.”