Chapter 81: Playing Both Sides

"Two million dollars is on the table," Jude said, looking down at the leader. "On one condition: give me the name of the person who funded this."

The crew leader, Marcus "Razor" Hu, glanced back at his men. "If word gets around that I named a client, my business is finished. I’ll give it to you in writing, privately."

Jude signaled Frank Miller, who brought over a clipboard and a pen.

Razor stepped over, wrote a name across the paper, folded it twice, and handed it to Jude.

Jude opened the sheet. Written in rough block letters was the name he expected:

SILAS VANGUARD.

Jude gave a nod, slipping the paper into his pocket. It aligned with Anna’s sudden delay on 14th Street; Silas had coordinated the timing and instructed his inside asset to hold back.

"You have the name, Mr. Lawson," Razor said, stepping back. "Have your team wire the $2 million, and we’ll clear off the waterfront."

Jude adjusted his jacket, his tone flat. "Why would I wire you $2 million?"

Razor frowned, his posture tensing up immediately. "You just offered 20 times the fee. Are you backing out?"

Behind Jude, Miller and the foremen watched closely.

"Of course I am," Jude replied calmly. "Your crew forced my gate, sent 2 operators to the clinic, and damaged equipment. You owe Lawson Capital at least $500,000 in site repairs, and you expected a payout?"

Razor picked his rebar up from the gravel, stepping forward. "Are you paying the money, or do we handle this right here?"

"Demanding $2 million under threat of violence," Jude noted evenly. "Lieutenant Grant, that’s enough."

Sirens cut through the yard. 4 unmarked NYPD tactical vans rounded the warehouse corner, blocking the access road and the gate.

20 officers in tactical gear moved in quickly, weapons drawn, cutting off any exit.

"NYPD! Drop the weapons and get on the ground!"

Leading the team was Lieutenant Lola Grant, badge visible on her jacket.

Razor looked around at the perimeter and dropped the rebar into the mud.

On the drive down from Lincoln Center, Jude had anticipated Anna’s delay. Refusing to leave site security to a double agent, he had contacted Lola Grant 10 minutes before reaching the gate.

Within 3 minutes, all 30 men were handcuffed and lined up along the fence.

As 2 officers walked Razor toward the van, he looked back at Jude. "Bail takes 48 hours. Soon as I’m out, we’re coming back."

Jude didn’t move. He glanced at Frank Miller. "Did the site cameras catch the conversation?"

Miller held up the rugged tablet. "Clear video and audio, Mr. Lawson."

Jude turned back to Razor. "You won’t be posting bail in 48 hours. You committed felony extortion on camera, backed by commercial property damage. Kingsley, Vance & Associates will handle the filing directly with the district attorney. You’ll be dealing with state prison time."

The firm’s name stopped Razor immediately.

"Mr. Lawson, wait..." Razor said, struggling against the cuffs. "Don’t bring Kingsley’s office into this."

Jude ignored him.

"Get them into the vans," Lola directed her officers.

Once the vehicles began moving toward the gate, Lola walked over to Jude, keeping her tone formal in front of the crew. "Mr. Lawson, I’ll need a brief statement in the office."

"Of course, Lieutenant," Jude said. He had Miller take Sophie to the lounge trailer while he stepped inside with Lola.

The moment the trailer door shut, Lola let out a breath and leaned against the desk, her professional posture dropping.

"Good timing, Lola," Jude said with a faint smile. "I owe you one."

Lola looked up, a small smile breaking through. "You said it yourself. My mother has been asking when you’re coming by for dinner ever since Aunt Song brought it up. You’re coming to the brownstone tonight."

Jude gave a dry laugh. "Pretending to be your boyfriend in front of your family sounds like a risk."

"You said you owed me," Lola replied. "I’m holding you to it."

"Fine," Jude said. "Send me the address later."

Lola paused, her expression turning professional again. "The paper Razor handed you before we moved in... who hired them?"

"Leave it off the incident report, Lola," Jude said quietly. "I’ll handle that account directly."

Outside the main gate, the black Ducati Panigale pulled up to the curb.

Anna took off her helmet, stopping as 4 NYPD prisoner vans drove past, filled with Razor and the rest of the crew in cuffs.

She walked into the yard, where Jude was stepping out of the site trailer uninjured, finishing a conversation with the lieutenant.

As the police cruiser pulled away, Anna approached and inclined her head. "Apologies for the delay, sir. The accident report on 14th Street took longer than expected. Are you alright?"

"Completely fine," Jude replied, his expression neutral. "The crew returned, and the NYPD had the perimeter covered. Their lead gave up the employer’s name before they loaded him into the van."

Anna kept her posture straight. "Who authorized it, sir?"

Jude met her eyes. "Silas Vanguard."

Anna kept her reaction carefully controlled. "Chairman Vanguard? Over the gala last night?"

"Most likely," Jude said. "Which brings us to your assignment tonight, Anna. I want you to go into Silas Vanguard’s estate and deliver a message for me."

Across town, in his Upper East Side study, Silas Vanguard sat at his desk with a cup of tea, waiting for confirmation from the waterfront.

Earlier, after Anna’s text about the altercation outside the school, Silas had ordered the second raid and told Anna to hold back her arrival so Jude would be left without private security.

The double doors opened, and Lucas limped in, an ice pack pressed to his face and his clothes disheveled.

Silas set his cup down hard. "What happened to you? Was that Jude Lawson?"

Lucas blinked through a swollen eye. "Dad... how did you know?"

Silas kept Anna’s name out of it. "Doesn’t matter. Sit down. I’ve already handled him. By now, Lawson is leaving the waterfront in an ambulance."

Lucas looked up, surprised. "Really?"

The private phone on the desk rang.

Silas picked it up, expecting the crew leader, but his expression dropped within seconds as he stood up from his chair.

"What do you mean the NYPD took them? All 30? And Lawson wasn’t touched?!"