CHAPTER 2: THE FALL OF KINGS
Chaos exploded across the ballroom.
Several guests attempted to flee.
Agents stopped them instantly.
One by one, names were called.
Business magnates.
Judges.
Politicians.
Executives.
People who had spent years believing they were untouchable.
Handcuffs clicked throughout the room.
My attacker backed away slowly.
"This is a mistake."
"No," I replied.
"The mistake was thinking power made you immune."
An enormous screen descended from the ceiling.
The crowd watched in horror as video evidence appeared.
Bribery.
Extortion.
Money laundering.
Blackmail.
Years of crimes exposed in minutes.
The evidence had been gathered during a covert operation lasting eighteen months.
Every meeting.
Every transaction.
Every secret conversation.
Recorded.
Documented.
Preserved.
The blonde socialite who had laughed when I was attacked collapsed into a chair.
Her husband was already being escorted away.
The richest man in the city.
The man everyone feared.
The man everyone obeyed.
Now standing in handcuffs.
He looked at me with hatred.
"You ruined everything."
I met his gaze.
"No."
"You ruined it yourself."
For years they had preyed on innocent people.
Destroyed competitors.
Bought justice.
Sold influence.
Tonight the bill finally arrived.
May you like
And for the first time in their lives—
they had no way to pay it.
