CHAPTER SEVEN: THE ROAD AHEAD
Marcus opened the door to the lead SUV, helping lift Maya and her wheelchair safely inside. Arthur climbed in beside her, pulling her close. The doors shut heavily, sealing them inside the quiet, secure cabin of the vehicle.
As the convoy pulled away from the Grand Plaza Hotel, leaving the shattered glass and the ruined lives of the Sterlings behind, Arthur pulled out his phone. The incident today was unacceptable. It highlighted a vulnerability in their security protocols that he could not tolerate.
He dialed a secure number. “Get me the Head of Global Security,” Arthur ordered into the phone. “We are restructuring the entire protective detail. And prepare the jet. We are moving our schedule forward. We leave for the Hamptons estate tonight. Maya needs a change of scenery.”
As the SUV navigated the busy streets of Manhattan, Maya leaned her head against her father’s arm, already falling asleep. Arthur stroked her hair, his mind racing with the challenges ahead. The Sterling incident was merely a symptom of a larger disease infecting his empire. There were board members who whispered behind his back, questioning his decision to leave his entire legacy to an adopted, disabled child.
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Arthur’s jaw tightened. They would soon learn the same lesson Eleanor Sterling had learned today. He would burn down the world before he let anyone threaten his family. The battle for the Thorne empire was just beginning, but as long as he had Maya by his side, he was ready for war.
The convoy sped toward the horizon, leaving the city behind as the first chapter of their long journey came to a close.
