Chapter 20 - The Unseen Threat
|
Six months later.
The mountain estate was a masterpiece of isolated architecture, nestled deep in the heavily forested peaks of Montana. It was entirely off the grid, surrounded by miles of private wilderness, heavily guarded by Silas’s most elite and loyal men.
Serena sat on the expansive wooden deck, holding a mug of warm tea, watching the sun dip below the snow-capped peaks. Inside the beautiful log mansion, baby Lily was asleep in her crib, a massive, highly trained German Shepherd lying at the foot of her bed.
Life had become quiet. Peaceful.
Silas had kept his promise. He managed his empire from afar, ensuring the violence and politics of the Chicago syndicate remained hundreds of miles away from their sanctuary. He was a ruthless boss to his enemies, but to Serena and Lily, he was entirely devoted.
The sliding glass door opened, and Silas stepped out onto the deck. He was dressed casually in a heavy wool sweater and dark jeans, looking relaxed and at peace.
He walked up behind Serena, wrapping his strong arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“She finally went down?” Silas murmured, kissing her neck softly.
“Out like a light,” Serena smiled, leaning back into his embrace. “She has your stubbornness, you know. Fought sleep for an hour.”
“She’s a Vance,” Silas chuckled softly. “We don't surrender easily.”
They stood in comfortable silence, watching the stars begin to appear in the clear mountain sky. For the first time in her life, Serena felt completely safe. The nightmare of Matthias, Fiona, and the cartel felt like a lifetime ago.
Suddenly, a sharp, electronic beep echoed from the device strapped to Silas’s wrist—a highly encrypted, emergency pager tied directly to the estate’s perimeter security system.
Silas pulled back slightly, looking down at the screen. The relaxed posture instantly vanished, his muscles tensing into coiled steel.
“What is it?” Serena asked, the old, familiar knot of dread twisting in her stomach.
Silas didn't answer immediately. He stared at the small screen, his ice-blue eyes narrowing into a dangerous squint.
The perimeter sensors, located three miles down the private mountain road, had just been tripped. But it wasn't a bear or a stray animal. The thermal imaging data transmitted to his wrist showed a convoy of five heavily armored, military-grade vehicles rolling silently up the mountain in complete darkness.
They weren't Chicago rivals. They weren't police. The tactical formation was something entirely different.
“Silas?” Serena pressed, reaching for his arm.
Silas looked up, his expression hardening into the terrifying mask of the warlord she had met at the Christmas party.
“Go inside, Serena,” Silas said, his voice dropping to a lethal, cold whisper. “Lock the safe room. Take the dog. Take the baby. Do not come out until I open the door.”
“Who is it?” she asked, backing toward the glass door.
May you like
Silas drew the heavy pistol from his waistband, his eyes fixed on the dark tree line below.
“A ghost from my past,” Silas replied softly, racking the slide. “And he just found my fortress.”
