Chapter 7 - THE SAFE HOUSE ON THE COAST
By 3:00 AM, a heavy black armored SUV cut through the thick coastal fog, pulling up to an isolated, stone-walled cliffside estate three hours north of the city.
This was the Blackwood Compound—Daniel’s private, off-grid retreat built into the rocky cliffs, secured by biometric locks and around-the-clock private security detail.
Inside the sprawling living room, a soft fire crackled in the hearth. Elena, a gentle, middle-aged woman who had been Julian and Daniel’s nanny decades ago, was waiting with a tray of warm milk and fresh towels.
"Oh, sweet mercy," Elena whispered as Daniel carried the sleeping child inside. She gently touched the bruise on Noah’s forehead. "Who could do such a terrible thing to an innocent baby?"
"People who value paper over blood," Daniel said softly, laying Noah onto a plush sofa and tucking a warm woolen blanket around his small shoulders.
Marcus stepped inside, shutting the heavy iron door behind him and locking the digital deadbolts. He handed Daniel an encrypted satellite phone.
"Boss, the board of directors just called an emergency meeting for 8:00 AM," Marcus reported, his brow furrowed. "Harrison Vance—your uncle—has stepped in as interim chairman in Margaret’s absence. He's demanding you present Noah in person for a court-ordered DNA test conducted by the board's private medical team."
Daniel scoffed, taking a sip of warm tea. "Harrison wants his own lab to touch Noah's DNA so he can forge a negative match."
May you like
"What do we do?" Marcus asked.
"We let Harrison host his emergency board meeting," Daniel said, his eyes glinting in the firelight with lethal resolve. "And we give him a surprise guest."
