Chapter 12 - Fortress Michigan
By midnight, the modern house in the orchard was completely transformed. Heavy black security shutters sealed the sunlit windows. Black tactical SUVs sat at the perimeter of the property, their engines idling silently in the dark.
Inside, the children were asleep, blissfully unaware of the danger outside, thanks to Sarah’s calm explanation that they were playing a "camping game" inside the house.
Luca stood in his private study, staring at a blueprint of his logistics firm’s digital network. Marco was sitting at the computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he monitored the company’s firewalls.
"Victor isn't going to attack the house first," Marco muttered, rubbing his eyes. "He’s a businessman of the underworld, Luca. He knows he can't breach a federal guard detail without heavy casualties. He’s going to attack our supply chain. If he destroys the Moretti Logistics Firm, he cuts off our financial lifelines."
"Let him try," Luca said, his voice a low velvet rumble that carried a deadly edge. "Every server we built over the last four years is encrypted with biometric codes. He can't steal the data without my signature."
Sarah walked into the study, carrying two mugs of black coffee. She looked tired, but her eyes were steady. She walked over to Luca, sliding her hand into his. "The kids are tucked in. Agent Vance said the local police have set up checkpoints on the county lines."
May you like
Luca turned, pulling her into his arms, burying his face in her dark hair. "I promised you fifty years of light, Sarah. And look what happened. The past always finds a way to drag us back into the mud."
"This isn't the past, Luca," Sarah whispered fiercely, forcing him to look at her. "Years ago, we were running, hiding, and afraid. Now, we have an army. We have the law, we have Marco, and we have each other. We aren't victims anymore. We are the wall he's going to crash into."
