Chapter 7 - Declan Gave Up the Empire for His Sons, but the Decision Made His Oldest Enemy Offer Catherine a Deal She Couldn't RefuseDeclan announced he was stepping away from the criminal network.
He transferred legitimate companies into a family trust.
The illegal operations were dismantled.
Some men left.
Others resisted.
One powerful rival, Victor Raines, offered Catherine a deal.
Give him control of the Sutter logistics network, and Declan's family would be left alone.
Catherine refused.
Victor threatened Gideon.
That was the line.
She decided to fight.
But instead of using violence, Catherine used the legal assets.
She exposed financial records.
Government contracts.
Shell companies.
Hidden accounts.
The Sutter empire began unraveling from the inside.
Victor was arrested.
The transition was difficult.
But successful.
Catherine became president of the legitimate company.
Declan supported her.
The boys grew up.
Tristan went to college.
Rowan became an attorney.
Gideon became the quietest and smartest of them all.
He loved technology.
He built security systems.
He never forgot what fear felt like.
And he made sure no child in the Sutter home would ever carry a secret alone again.
One evening, Catherine asked him:
“Why did you always watch everything?”
He said:
“Because you were the one person I couldn't lose.”
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She hugged him.
“You'll never have to protect me alone again.”
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