CHAPTER 14 — THE PRICE OF SAYING NO
“SEND IT BACK.”
Michael didn’t hesitate.
Rachel stared at the ten-million-dollar balance.
“You understand they’re testing your response?”
“Good.”
He pressed the transfer button.
The transaction failed.
ACCOUNT RESTRICTED.
Michael tried again.
Nothing.
Then his phone rang.
A woman answered before he spoke.
“You cannot return a gift to Orion.”
Michael recognized the voice from the black sedan.
“Watch me.”
She laughed softly.
“Your grandfather said the same thing.”
Michael froze.
“You knew Charles?”
“I know what he built.”
“Is he alive?”
A pause.
“No.”
Michael exhaled.
“Then stop using him.”
“He died twelve years ago. But he left instructions concerning you.”
“I was barely an adult.”
“Exactly.”
Michael looked at Rachel.
“What instructions?”
The woman replied, “Charles believed Orion had become the very thing it was created to prevent.”
Michael frowned.
“What was it created to prevent?”
“Dynasties.”
Michael almost laughed.
“Orion manipulates families.”
“Now it does.”
Her voice hardened.
“But in 1952, Orion was created to stop private empires from becoming more powerful than governments.”
Rachel whispered, “Then it became one.”
“Yes.”
Michael understood the irony.
Every organization in his family’s history had claimed protection while becoming another form of control.
“What does this have to do with me?”
“Charles designed the Final Protocol to destroy Orion from inside.”
Michael stared.
“And I’m the weapon?”
“No.”
The woman paused.
“You are the choice.”
A file appeared on Michael’s phone.
Inside were names.
Judges.
Executives.
Intelligence officers.
Billionaires.
People across eleven countries.
Michael’s blood chilled.
“What is this?”
“The current Orion Council.”
“And what do you expect me to do?”
“Come to Geneva.”
“No.”
“Then tomorrow morning every person on that list will know you refused.”
Michael frowned.
“Why would they care?”
May you like
The woman answered quietly.
“Because Charles gave you the only vote capable of dissolving Orion.”
