Harrison stumbled backward against his Mercedes, dropping his leather briefcase onto the wet pavement.

"Valon!" Harrison shrieked, looking at my husband with wild, terrified eyes. "This is a mistake! I am your legal counsel! I have attorney-client privilege!"

"Attorney-client privilege doesn't protect land fraud, Harrison," Valon said softly, stepping forward until he stood inches from his former lawyer. "Or sending forged surveillance photos from my private server."

Julian Vance stepped up, snapping heavy steel handcuffs onto Harrison’s wrists.

"We tapped your Delaware holding company two hours ago, Harrison," Julian said smoothly, picking up the fallen leather briefcase from the street. "The moment Sigrid signed those papers under false commercial pretenses, the wire fraud charge became fully actionable. Thank you for making this so simple."

Harrison looked from Julian to Valon, then finally to me.

He saw me standing beside Valon, my hand resting securely inside my husband's coat pocket, my face no longer pale, no longer afraid.

"You..." Harrison gasped, his voice cracking with pure, bitter rage. "You trapped me!"

"You tried to take my restaurant," I said quietly, stepping up beside Valon. "And you tried to destroy my family."

"Your family?!" Harrison spat, laughing hysterically as the federal agents dragged him toward the back of the SUV. "He's a Meta, Sigrid! He's a mobster! You think a baby changes what he is?!"

Valon stepped in front of Harrison, leaning down until his dark eyes were level with his former lawyer’s.

"It changes everything, Harrison," Valon whispered, his voice low, cold, and utterly final. "Because now I have something to lose. And God help anyone who tries to touch it."

The agents slammed the rear door of the SUV, cutting off Harrison’s screams, and drove away into the rainy Manhattan afternoon.

Julian Vance walked over to us, holding the leather briefcase. He looked at Valon, then at me, offering a quiet, respectful nod.

"The Delaware shell company’s assets have been frozen," Julian said. "The commercial land title beneath the Northern Table will be restored to Sigrid’s personal holding trust by tomorrow morning. Your restaurant is safe, Sigrid."

"Thank you, Julian," I said softly.

Julian looked at Valon, his eyes narrowing slightly. "We still have matters to settle regarding Pier 42, Meta."

"Call my new attorneys tomorrow, Vance," Valon replied smoothly, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close against his side. "Today, I am taking my wife home."

Julian smiled faintly, turned, and walked back to his vehicle.