Chapter 7
The rain lashed aggressively against the reinforced windows of the Ashford mansion, a torrential downpour that mirrored the storm brewing within its walls. Callan was set to leave for the sit-down with Elias Drake in less than an hour. The foyer was packed with his most trusted men, checking weapons, adjusting Kevlar vests, and speaking in hushed, grim tones.
Vera stood at the top of the grand marble staircase, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. She wore a soft gray cashmere sweater and dark trousers, looking entirely different from the timid maid she had been just a week ago. But beneath the expensive clothes, she was terrified.
Callan ascended the stairs, breaking away from his lieutenants. He wore a long, dark wool overcoat that made him look even more imposing, hiding the shoulder holster she knew he wore. He stopped on the step just below hers, looking up at her with an intensity that stole her breath.
"I have tripled the guard around the perimeter," Callan said, his voice low, meant only for her. "No one gets in. No one gets out. You stay on the second floor with Jude. Do not go near the windows."
"Callan," she whispered, using his first name for the first time. The syllables felt heavy and intimate on her tongue. "Please, don't go. Simone is vindictive. This is an ambush, I know it."
Callan’s expression softened, a rare crack in his impenetrable armor. He stepped up, closing the distance between them. He reached out, his large, tattooed hands cupping her face. His thumbs brushed over her cheekbones.
"I have survived ambushes before, Vera. I am the apex predator in this city. Elias Drake is old, and his daughter is reckless. They will make a mistake, and when they do, I will end them."
"But if they take you..." Vera’s voice broke, tears threatening to spill. "What happens to Jude? What happens to us?"
Callan leaned his forehead against hers. She could feel the heat radiating from him, smell the sharp scent of rain, expensive cologne, and gunpowder. "My men have strict orders. If I do not call in by midnight, they are to take you and Jude to a safe house in the mountains. You will have enough money to disappear forever. You will raise him."
"No," Vera gasped, grabbing the lapels of his coat. "No, you have to come back. You promised me nobody in your family was going to die."
"I intend to keep that promise," Callan murmured. He tilted her chin up, his gaze dropping to her lips before returning to her eyes. The tension between them was electric, heavy with unspoken desires and terrifying realities. Slowly, deliberately, he pressed a firm, lingering kiss to her forehead. "Lock the door behind me, Vera. And keep him safe."
He turned and walked down the stairs, not looking back. Vera watched until the heavy oak front doors closed behind him, swallowing him into the storm.
May you like
The house suddenly felt impossibly massive and terrifyingly empty. She hurried back to the guest suite, where Jude was sleeping soundly in the massive bed. She locked the heavy wooden door, threw the deadbolt, and dragged a heavy oak chair under the handle. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she stared at the clock on the nightstand.
It was 8:00 PM. Four hours until midnight. The countdown had begun.
