Chapter 4 - Setting the Trap
I didn't storm downstairs with my gun drawn. A soldier knows that raw rage gets you killed, but calculated strategy wins wars.
The next morning, I walked into the kitchen wearing a relaxed smile. My mother was sitting at the island, sipping coffee from a gold-rimmed cup, while Ricardo leaned against the counter, scrolling through his phone.
"Good morning, family," I said smoothly, pouring myself a glass of water.
Ricardo gave me a suspicious glance.
"You look like you slept terrible, big guy."
"Just jetlag," I lied easily.
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you two about the business. I know things have been tough while I was away. I was thinking of transferring my remaining overseas military pension into the main company account today. It’s about four hundred thousand dollars."
My mother’s eyes lit up with sickening greed. She practically knocked her coffee cup over as she sat up straight.
"Oh, Lucas! That is so sensible of you! Ricardo has been managing everything so well, he can handle the deposit for you!"
"Great," I said, smiling at my brother.
"I just need you to sign a quick power-of-attorney update at my attorney's office downtown at two o'clock. Once you sign it, the four hundred grand hits the account immediately."
"I'll be there at 1:45," Ricardo said, his eyes practically gleaming with dollar signs.
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They thought I was a naive fool who had handed them the final piece of my life on a silver platter. They had no idea that the attorney I had called at five that morning wasn't a corporate lawyer.
He was the Regional Director of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, and my old commanding officer.
