Chapter 6 - ESCALATION
The removal of Miller sent the Thorne estate into a total lockdown. The atmosphere shifted from arrogance to a high-voltage, lethal anxiety. My position as 'Marcus Vane' was now the most dangerous place in the world. Thorne was convinced there was a mole in his security detail, and he began executing 'stress tests'—random interrogations of his own men.
I had to play it perfectly. I stood by Thorne’s side as he paced his office, his face pale with rage. I offered advice on who to fire, subtly pointing the finger at the remaining two conspirators, Vance and Henderson.
I was effectively turning Thorne’s own guard against himself.
While Thorne was distracted by his internal witch hunt, I focused on the other two. Vance, the alcoholic, was my next target. I didn't need to kidnap him. I knew he was drinking at The Rusty Anchor every night at 11:00 PM. I hacked the bar’s digital jukebox and replaced the music with the audio of the beating—my son’s cries for help, mixed with the laughter of the men who did it.
I sat in the corner booth, hidden in the shadows, watching as Vance’s face drained of color. He bolted from the bar, terrified, looking for someone—anyone—to help him. He didn't know I was watching him through the bar's internal camera, which I had just taken control of.
I led him on a cat-and-mouse chase through the industrial district. He was drunk, panicked, and predictable. When I finally cornered him, I didn't beat him. I forced him to record a confession on his own phone, admitting to the assault and naming Silas Thorne as the one who ordered the "teaching moment."
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I sent the video to every major news outlet in the state. By the time I returned to the estate, the news was breaking. Henderson, the last of the three, realized the walls were closing in. He went rogue, trying to flee the city. I intercepted him at the train station, not to capture him, but to offer him a choice: become a witness, or be the scapegoat for everything. He chose to flip.
The syndicate was collapsing, and the only person left standing in the center of the wreckage was Silas Thorne.
