Chapter 96 Collin's Speech
COLLIN'S POV
I looked out at the room full of people and felt satisfaction. This was power. This was control. Fifty of the most important people in my organization all gathered in one place. All here because I commanded it.
"Gentlemen," I said. My voice carried through the room. "Thank you for coming tonight. I know some of you are wondering why I called this meeting. Why I demanded everyone be here."
I paused and looked at Caitlyn standing next to me. She looked terrified. Good.
"The reason is simple," I continued. "We have a traitor among us. Someone who thought they could destroy what we have built. Someone who thought they could work with the police and walk away unscathed."
I put my hand on Caitlyn's shoulder. She flinched at my touch but I did not let go.
"This woman," I said. "My wife. She gave statements to the police. She agreed to testify against me. Against all of us. She tried to bring down this entire organization."
Murmurs went through the crowd. People are shifting in their seats. Looking at Caitlyn with anger.
"She thought she was clever," I said. "Thought she could gather evidence and hide it. Thought she could escape and never be found. But she was wrong. I found her. I brought her back. And now she is going to pay the ultimate price."
"What about the trial?" someone asked from the crowd. "What about her testimony?"
"There will be no testimony," I said. "Because there will be no witness. By tomorrow morning Caitlyn will be dead and the case against me will fall apart."
"The cops have other evidence," someone else said. "They have Viktor's testimony."
"Viktor's testimony is not enough without Caitlyn," I said. "The prosecutors know that. I know that. Which is why she has to die."
I walked around Caitlyn slowly. Like a predator circling prey.
"But her death serves another purpose," I said. "It sends a message. To everyone in this room. To everyone in this organization. The message is simple. Loyalty is rewarded. Betrayal is punished. Severely."
"How are you going to do it?" someone asked. "How are you going to kill her?"
"I have not decided yet," I said. "I am considering my options. A bullet would be quick. Clean. But maybe too merciful."
Caitlyn made a small sound. Like a gasp or a sob. I smiled.
"Maybe something slower," I continued. "Something that gives her time to think about what she did. Time to regret her choices."
"What about the baby?" Viktor asked. "She is pregnant."
"The baby dies with her," I said. "It is not mine anyway. It is Jason Cross's offspring. I am not raising my enemy's child."
"That is cold Collin," Dimitri said. "Even for you."
"Is it?" I asked. "I do not think so. The baby is just collateral damage. Unfortunate but necessary."
I walked back to the front and faced the room again.
"Let me be clear about something," I said. "Every person in this room is complicit in what happens tonight. You are all witnesses. You are all participants. If anyone here thinks they can walk away and pretend they were not involved you are wrong."
"What are you saying?" one of the cops asked.
"I am saying that if I go down for this you all go down with me," I said. "You were all here. You all watched. You all did nothing to stop it. That makes you all accessories to murder."
"You are threatening us," the cop said.
"I am protecting myself," I corrected. "And protecting all of you. Because we are all in this together. We sink or swim as a group."
The room went quiet. People looking at each other. Realizing the trap they had walked into.
"Of course," I continued. "There is no reason to worry. Because I will be leaving the country tomorrow. And without me here to testify there is no evidence linking any of you to what happens tonight."
"What about her body?" someone asked. "What are you going to do with it?"
"That is already arranged," I said. "The body will disappear. No trace. No evidence. Just another missing person that is never found."
"And if someone talks?" another person asked. "If someone here goes to the police?"
"Then that person will have an unfortunate accident," I said. "Just like Caitlyn is about to have. Do I make myself clear?"
Nods around the room. Everyone understood. Everyone was trapped.
"Good," I said. "Now that we have that settled let me explain why betrayal cannot be tolerated."
I walked over to Caitlyn again. Grabbed her arm and pulled her to the center of the stage.
"Look at her," I said. "Look at what she represents. Weakness. Disloyalty. Ingratitude. I gave her everything. A home. Money. Status. And she threw it all away."
"You gave me a prison," Caitlyn said. Her voice was shaking but she forced the words out. "You gave me fear and pain."
"I gave you a life," I said. "A life most people would kill for. And you were too stupid to appreciate it."
"I appreciated my freedom more," Caitlyn said.
"And look where that got you," I said. "Standing here about to die. Was your freedom worth it?"
"Yes," Caitlyn said. "It was."
"Liar," I said. "You are terrified. You do not want to die. You just want to sound brave in front of all these people."
"I am terrified," Caitlyn admitted. "But I would still make the same choice. I would still choose freedom over you. Every single time."
"Then you are a fool," I said.
I turned back to the room.
"This is what happens when you let emotion cloud your judgment," I said. "When you choose feelings over logic. Over survival. Caitlyn chose to fight me instead of submitting. And now she will die for that choice."
"When?" someone asked. "When are you going to do it?"
"Soon," I said. "Very soon. I am just waiting for the right moment."
"Why wait?" the person asked. "Why not just do it now?"
"Because I want her to suffer first," I said. "Want her to stand here in front of all of you and know that no one is coming to save her. Want her to feel completely hopeless before the end."
I looked at Caitlyn. Watched tears running down her face. Watched her hands on her stomach protecting the baby that could not be protected.
"How does it feel Caitlyn?" I asked. "How does it feel to know you are about to die?"
She did not answer. Just looked at me with hatred in her eyes.
"Answer me," I said. "How does it feel?"
"It feels like you have already won," Caitlyn said quietly. "Like there is no hope left."
"Good," I said. "That is exactly how I want you to feel."