Chapter 4 - The Manor Under Siege
"They won't reach her," Viktor said, his voice carrying the absolute finality of an iron door slamming shut. "Transfer three hundred men from the docks detail to the Mayfair perimeter. If Vance Sterling so much as breathes near this property, burn his office to the ground."
"Dad?"
Viktor turned around. Julian was standing at the end of the hallway, wearing a dark blue robe, holding a warm cup of tea. His eyes were wide as he looked from his father to the guest room door.
"Is Vance trying to hurt Lily?" Julian asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"No, son," Viktor said, walking over and placing a firm hand on his boy’s shoulder. "No one is going to hurt anyone in this house ever again."
Julian looked past his father into the room. Lily was standing by the window, watching the rain beat against the glass, her hand resting on Shadow's broad back. Julian walked into the room, sitting on the edge of the plush rug beside the dog.
"Thank you," Julian said softly, looking at Lily. "For coming down into the dark."
Lily looked at the boy, then at the silver ring shining on his finger. "Shadow said you were brave. He said you didn't cry when the bad men yelled at you."
Julian flushed slightly, rubbing his sore wrist. "I was scared. But my dad told me once that being brave isn't about not being scared. It's about doing what you have to do anyway."
For the first time since she had walked into Viktor's life, a genuine, beautiful smile spread across Lily's face.
In the study down the hall, Viktor stood before a massive floor-to-ceiling glass window overlooking the manicured gardens of the estate. Rain streaked down the panes in heavy, dark rivets.
Marcus entered silently. "Sterling just called an emergency board meeting for ten o'clock tomorrow morning at the Financial Centre. He’s going to execute a hostile corporate takeover, claiming you are 'unfit and compromised' due to your family's recent troubles."
"He thinks I’m distracted," Viktor murmured, watching a pair of security guards patrol the garden wall with thermal optics. "He thinks because he struck at my heart, I will hide in my castle."
"What are your orders, Boss?"
"Call the council," Viktor commanded softly. "Tell them I will attend Mr. Sterling’s board meeting in person. And bring the dog."
Marcus blinked, stunned. "The dog, sir?"
"Vance Sterling built his empire on the belief that he is a genius who can manipulate men with money and fear," Viktor said, a dark, dangerous smile touching his lips. "I want him to look into the eyes of the beast that tore his master plan to pieces."
That night, the storm peaked over London. Thunder shook the heavy stone foundations of the Mayfair mansion.
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In the master guest suite, Lily slept in a massive feather bed, warm and secure for the first time in two years. On the floor beside her, Shadow kept his vigilant watch, his pale eyes catching the flash of lightning outside the window.
And in the hallway outside, two heavily armed Draven bodyguards stood at absolute attention, guarding a street child as if she were a royal princess.
