Chapter 5 - Sanctuary at Blackwood Ridge
We reached Blackwood Ridge at two in the morning.
The lodge was a massive, timber-frame fortress hidden deep within a pine valley, surrounded by forty acres of dense forest and high security fencing. As our battered convoy pulled through the concealed entrance, six resident guards dressed in dark tactical gear lined the driveway, securing the perimeter.
I carried a fast-asleep, exhausted Leo inside, walking up a grand timber staircase to a spacious, warm master bedroom overlooking the pine canopy. I laid him down on a king-sized bed covered in plush wool blankets, gently pulling the duvet over his small shoulders.
Rachel stood in the doorway, watching me quietly, her arms folded across her chest. She had shed her wet coat, revealing her thin, worn sweater. She looked small against the grand architecture of the lodge, but the fierce fire in her eyes remained undimmed.
I walked over to the closet, pulled out a thick cashmere sweater and a pair of clean sweatpants I kept at the lodge, and handed them to her.
"The bathroom is through that door," I said softly. "Hot water is instantaneous. Change into something warm."
She took the clothes without a word, stepping into the bathroom and closing the door.
I walked downstairs to the main study. Viktor was already there, spreading a tactical map of the city across a large oak table.
"Moretti took heavy losses on the highway, Boss," Viktor reported, placing three red markers on the map. "He lost six men and two vehicles. But he’s desperate now. He knows that if he doesn't eliminate you before the Thorne family board convenes on Friday, your control over the syndicate will be absolute and he will be wiped out."
"Where is my mother?" I asked, pouring myself a glass of water.
"Secured in the east wing of the main estate," Viktor replied. "She attempted to bribe two of the junior guards, but they reported directly to me. She is completely isolated."
"Good," I said, my voice cold. "Keep her there until I decide her fate. What about Caleb?"
"Caleb is en route here under heavy escort," Viktor confirmed. "He will arrive before dawn with his nanny."
I leaned over the table, staring at the map. "Moretti thinks he can corner me in the mountains. He thinks because I pulled back to protect my family, I am on the defensive."
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"Are we not, Boss?" Viktor asked cautiously.
I looked up at my chief enforcer, a lethal smile touching my lips. "I spent ten years playing defense against shadows, Viktor. Tonight, I have my family back. Call Marco. Tell him to mobilize the entire southern strike team. We are hunting Moretti down before the sun rises."
