The Proxy He Stole

Chapter 4 The London Sword

The jet landed on a rain-soaked London runway. A black car waited beyond the steps.

Julian Caine stepped out and opened a large black umbrella over me. He studied my face without offering the pity everyone else seemed eager to give.

He held the car door. “Welcome, Evangeline.”

The car bypassed the hotels and safe houses. It entered the underground garage of an unmarked glass tower, where a private elevator took us to a command center above the city. Floor-to-ceiling windows looked over London, while a massive holographic interface filled the opposite wall.

“The Nightingale Protocol was beautifully built.” Julian pointed to the map of New York's coastline. Three ports flashed red. “No trace back to you. His access is gone, and he still doesn't know where to look.”

“He thinks it's a glitch I'll have to beg him to fix.” I watched the data streams update. “Arrogance is doing most of the work.”

“Then let's correct him.”

One of the side screens switched to a live broadcast from the Bellini estate. Adrian was throwing a party in my ballroom. The camera moved through the guests and settled on him with a champagne flute in hand.

A reporter held up a microphone. “Mr. Moretti, what do you say to the rumors of instability in your organization? And where is your fiancée, Miss Bellini?”

Adrian gave the camera the laugh he used at charity dinners. “My fiancée is a passionate woman. Sometimes a king has to let his queen have her little tantrum.” He raised his glass. “This party is for her. Don't worry. She'll be back before the champagne runs out.”

The guests behind him laughed on cue. I reached for the central terminal.

Julian rested a hand on the control panel. “I have files on every partner and every illegal transaction. Say the word, and I'll destroy what's left for you.”

I stopped him. “No. Adrian is mine to handle.”

I took his place at the terminal. My mother had taught me to keep control of anything I built for someone else. Adrian's empire had a failsafe only I could use.

“The protocol has a second stage.” I entered the authorization sequence. “Nightingale locked him out. This releases the evidence.”

I took my mother's thin black signet card from the hidden pocket in my jacket and pressed it to the scanner. The system chimed and dozens of encrypted files opened: illegal arms shipments, laundered accounts, extortion records, and every other crime supporting the Moretti organization.

The screen displayed one prompt: *Distribute to authenticated receivers?*

Below it were two options: *Confirm. Abort.*

Julian moved back and left the choice to me. I understood why he had shown me the system instead of touching it himself.

On the side screen, Adrian was still smiling into the camera.

I pressed *Confirm*.

The files went to the FBI, Interpol, and Adrian's most dangerous rivals. New destinations lit up across the global map until every package showed as delivered.

Julian read the delivery confirmations and smiled. “Magnificent. He gave you access to every part of his organization and assumed it made you easier to control.”

Red alerts multiplied across New York. “He thought access worked only one way.”

Julian covered my hand on the console. “Here, no one will ask you to stand behind your own chair. This is your kingdom now, Evangeline.”

(Adrian's POV)