Chapter 19 - A Family United
|
As the party quieted down, I walked out onto the peaceful terrace of the Sterling Manor, taking in the cool night breeze.
The stars shone brightly over the bay, reflecting in the quiet water below.
Caleb stepped out onto the terrace, holding a small silver tray with a sealed black envelope resting upon it.
The warm, cheerful smile vanished from his face, replaced by the sharp, intense expression he carried during high-stakes intelligence operations.
I turned to him, noticing the sudden shift in atmosphere. “Caleb? What’s wrong?”
“A courier delivered this two minutes ago,” Caleb said softly, stepping closer. “He dropped it at the outer gate and vanished into an unmarked vehicle before security could intercept him.”
I frowned, looking at the envelope. “Is it from Isaac’s lawyers? An appeal?”
“No,” Caleb replied, his jaw tight. “We checked the wax seal on the back. It’s not from anyone in this country.”
I reached out and picked up the heavy black envelope.
On the back was an intricate, raised gold seal depicting a striking double-headed falcon clutching a broken crown—an emblem I had never seen before.
May you like
“Did Marcus run the signature?” I asked, my heart taking a sudden, unexpected leap in my chest.
“The seal belongs to the Syndicate,” Caleb whispered, looking around the dark grounds. “The European banking cartel that secretly financed Arthur Vance’s expansion twenty years ago. The people Arthur was actually working for.”
