Chapter 30 - The Open Door
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The next morning, the sun rose over the mountains, painting the estate in brilliant hues of gold and amber. It looked like a postcard of the perfect American dream.
I stood in the kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee. Mara walked in, wearing one of my oversized dress shirts, her hair tousled and her green eyes bright with morning energy. She wrapped her arms around my waist from behind, resting her chin on my shoulder.
"You were up late," she murmured, kissing my neck.
"Just couldn't sleep," I lied smoothly, turning around to hand her a mug of coffee. "Thinking about the future."
"It's a bright one," she smiled, taking a sip.
Suddenly, the heavy oak front door of the estate chimed—a delivery.
I frowned. We weren't expecting any packages. I walked to the front foyer, pulling open the massive door. Sitting on the welcome mat was a small, plain brown cardboard box. No return address. No postage stamps. It had been hand-delivered, completely bypassing the gate security.
I glanced around the empty driveway, my instincts screaming at me.
I picked up the box and carried it into the study, locking the door behind me. I pulled my combat knife from my pocket and sliced through the packing tape.
I opened the flaps.
Inside was a single, pristine white chess piece. A Queen.
Underneath the piece was a photograph. It was a picture taken from a high-powered sniper rifle scope. The crosshairs were centered perfectly on the back of Mara’s head as she sat on the patio the previous afternoon.
Attached was a handwritten note.
Richard thinks he won. But the game hasn't even started yet, Julian. We need your help to dethrone the King. If you don't show up tonight, the Queen falls.
I stared at the photograph, my chest tightening with a suffocating, familiar dread.
The door handle to the study rattled.
"Julian?" Mara's voice called out from the hallway. "Who was at the door?"
I quickly shoved the box and the photograph into the bottom drawer of the desk and locked it. I took a deep breath, smoothing my expression into the perfect, loving husband she believed me to be.
May you like
"Just a misdelivered package, sweetheart!" I called back, walking toward the door.
I unlocked it and pulled it open, stepping out to face my beautiful wife, knowing with absolute certainty that I was about to drag her back into hell.
