Rebecca’s POV
I burst through the front doors of the Sterling villa, every sense on high alert. The entrance hall was eerily quiet, but I could hear movement deeper in the house and smell the anxiety permeating the air.
Marcus appeared from a side corridor, his usually impeccable appearance slightly disheveled, a bluetooth earpiece in one ear and a tablet
in hand.
“Report,‘ I demanded, the word coming out more commanding than I’d intended.
If Marcus was surprised by my tone, he didn’t show it. “North and east perimeter sensors triggered twice in the past thirty minutes. Security footage shows nothing, which suggests they’re using tech to mask their approach.”
“Dominic?” I asked, striding toward the main staircase.
“No direct contact,” Marcus replied, falling into step beside me. “All standard communications channels are experiencing interference. We’ve reverted to legacy systems and mind–link where possible.”
I stopped abruptly, turning to face him. “Dominic and Luna Sterling?”
Marcus’s expression remained professional, but I caught the flicker of concern in his eyes. “Unable to establish consistent contact, but we detected Alpha Sterling’s signature briefly from the industrial sector. They’re being pursued, but the Alpha is… formidable.”
The last word carried respect bordering on reverence. Despite the situation, I felt a flicker of pride. Dominic was indeed formidable.
“Where’s Lucas?” I asked, my voice dropping to a near–whisper.
“Upper level, west wing nursery. Sofia arrived about twenty minutes ago. Diana is with them.”
I nodded, relief washing through me. “Prepare three armored vehicles and a fully equipped Delta team. I want them ready to move within fifteen minutes.”
Marcus blinked, the first sign of surprise he’d shown. “Ma’am?”
“You heard me.” I met his gaze steadily. “Fifteen minutes, Marcus. Full tactical gear, silver–resistant vests.”
After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
As he turned to leave, I called after him, “And Marcus? Thank you for protecting our home.”
His shoulders straightened almost imperceptibly. “Always, ma’am.”
I continued up the stairs, moving swiftly toward the nursery. As I approached, I could hear Sofia’s soft voice singing what sounded like a Spanish lullaby. The gentle melody provided a surreal contrast to the tension gripping the house.
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15:18 Mon, Sep 29
Chapter 235
(90
I pushed open the door quietly. The sight that greeted me loosened the knot of anxiety in my chest slightly: Sofía sat in the rocking chair. by the window, Lucas cradled in her arms, her dark curls falling forward as she smiled down at him. Diana stood nearby, her watchful gaze moving between the baby and the windows.
Both women looked up as I entered. Diana’s eyes widened at the sight of me–I suddenly remembered I was still wearing clothes stained with Raymond’s blood.
“Rebecca! Sofia gasped, rising carefully with Lucas. “What happened? Where’s Raymond and Dominic?”
I moved forward, pressing a kiss to Lucas’s forehead before responding. His familiar scent–milk and powder and that indefinable sweetness that was uniquely his–centered me.
“Raymond was attacked at the funeral,” I explained, keeping my voice low and calm. “He’s at Silvercrest with Dr. Winters. Dominic and his mother are being pursued, but they’re evading capture.”
Diana’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh my God, how could this happen?”
I reached out, squeezing her hand. “Don’t worry, Diana. Dominic is strong, and we’re going to make sure everyone stays safe.” I turned to Sofia. “But right now, I need your help. Things are going to get worse before they get better.”
Sofia straightened, shifting Lucas to her shoulder. “Whatever you need, Becca. You know that.”
“We need to move Lucas to a secure location,” I said, crossing to the closet. “Somewhere only Dominic and I know about.”
I pulled out a waterproof backpack and began methodically filling it with essentials: diapers, formula, several changes of clothes. My hands moved with practiced efficiency, but I could feel them trembling slightly.
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