Chapter 3 - Dawn Over the Ridge
The first pale rays of winter sunlight pierced through the receding clouds at 6:30 AM, casting a blinding, golden glare across the fresh powder blanketing the Cascade Mountains. The storm had blown itself out, leaving behind an eerie, majestic silence that felt almost sacrilegious given the violence of the night before.
Inside the estate, Lily stirred.
She opened her eyes, blinking against the morning light. For a second, panic flashed across her small face as she looked around the unfamiliar, soaring timber room. Then she saw Rosa sitting beside her with a warm bowl of oatmeal, and the tension drained out of her tiny frame.
"Good morning, sweetheart," Rosa said with a gentle smile, handing her a warm cup of apple cider. "How are your feet feeling?"
"They tickle," Lily whispered honestly, taking a cautious sip of the cider. "Where are Owen and Ethan?"
"They're sleeping right next door in the nursery. They drank all their milk and they're as cozy as can be," Rosa reassured her, gently smoothing her blond hair. "Your Uncle Nathan had to step out for a few minutes, but he'll be right back."
Upstairs in his private master suite, Nathan Pierce was standing before the floor-to-ceiling mirror.
He had stripped off his usual bespoke Italian wool suit. In its place, he wore heavy tactical cargo trousers, combat boots, a durable waterproof shell jacket, and a shoulder holster fitted with a legal, licensed Sig Sauer P226—a firearm he hadn't fired since his days at an isolated hunting cabin during his residency.
He checked the magazine, chambered a round with a sharp, metallic clack, and slid the weapon into place.
His phone buzzed on the dresser. It was Victor Vance.
"Doc, we've got eyes on the target," Victor reported over the secure comms earpiece Nathan had fitted into his ear. "Two black SUVs just pulled up to the Carter residence in Ashford Valley. Local sheriff’s cruiser is parked right behind them. Looks like Marcus is cleaning up the mess."
Nathan’s jaw tightened until the bone ached. "Are they still inside?"
"For now. But they're packing boxes and loading black trash bags into the trunk. If we don't move in the next twenty minutes, Marcus is going to run for the state line."
"Hold your position," Nathan commanded, his voice dropping into the cold, flat tone he used when making a critical incision. "Do not let him leave the property. I'm three minutes out."
Nathan clicked the earpiece off, grabbed his heavy leather gloves, and walked out of the bedroom.
As he descended the grand staircase, he found Lily sitting at the edge of the great room rug, wrapped in a blanket, watching him with big, serious green eyes. She had seen men in suits before. She had seen her father shouting, breaking plates, slamming doors. But when she looked at Nathan now, she didn't see an uncle in distress.
She saw a protector.
Nathan stopped at the base of the stairs, kneeling down so he was eye-level with the little girl.
"Lily," he said softly, taking her small hand in his. "I have to go out for a little while. Rosa is going to stay right here with you and the boys. Nobody is ever going to hurt you again. Do you understand me?"
Lily nodded slowly, her green eyes reflecting the morning light. "Are you going to find the monster?"
May you like
Nathan’s expression hardened into stone. "I'm going to finish him."
Without another word, Nathan stood up, walked out the front door, and fired up the ignition of his armored matte-black Mercedes G-Wagon. The heavy-duty engine roared to life, kicking up a spray of diamond-bright snow as he slammed it into gear and rocketed down the winding mountain pass toward Ashford Valley.
