“Mr. Ashford,” Reeves cut him off, stepping into his space, her voice like cracking ice. “For your own sake, stop talking.”

Victor’s charm finally cracked, revealing the panicked old man under it. “On what grounds are you invading my private family event?”

Reeves didn’t blink. She raised a thick, blue-backed federal warrant so the whole room could see the seal.

“We’re executing a raid on charges of racketeering. Securities fraud. Bribery of public officials. International money laundering. Witness intimidation.

And criminal conspiracy.”

With every word, another layer of gold was stripped off the Ashford legacy.