Part 17: The Capital Freeze
Nicholas Cross didn't say another word.
He turned around and walked rapidly back to his black sedan, his suit jacket stiff in the freezing wind.
He threw his briefcase into the passenger seat, slammed the door, and accelerated away from the terminal.
I walked over to the safety fence where Daniel was waiting with the twins, their long light brown hair catching the autumn breeze.
"Is that man gone, Maya?" Daniel asked, his big, hopeful eyes looking up at me.
"He's gone, sweetheart," I said, lifting one of the babies into my arms. "He won't be coming back."
Marcus walked up the concrete path, a proud, genuine smile on his face as he handed me the final city registry document.
"The western expansion is approved, Boss," Marcus said.
"The entire district is officially designated as a protected infrastructure zone. No commercial developments can touch it."
I looked out over the wide-open transport lanes, where the stone benches were covered in a thin layer of pristine white snow.
The liars were contained.
The old police paperwork was torn to shreds.
The ledger was perfectly, beautifully balanced.
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"Let's go home, Daniel," I whispered, holding the baby close against my chest.
Their relaxed, genuine laughter filled the clean air as we walked toward our private car, leaving the remnants of the predators' world behind us.
