Austin sat in the operations room beneath the estate. The room was dark and cold, lit only by wall-sized monitors tracking movement outside the gates and communications inside the Montgomery empire. Elias leaned on the edge of the polished conference table, arms crossed.
"The reporter from Channel 9 who asked about Clair's hospital credentials?" Elias began. "Fake name. She doesn't exist in any database."
Austin didn't blink. "Alias?"
"Most likely. But that's not all. She asked about Montgomery shipments to the northeast ports. Someone told her what to look for."
Austin's jaw tensed. "A mole."
"Or a puppet. My gut says she's not the real threat."
Austin turned toward the monitors and rewound footage of the press conference. His gaze locked on a woman in the background with pale blonde hair, a black blazer, and a camera strapped to her chest. She never asked a question. She just filmed. Focused only on Clair.
He zoomed in.
"Find her."
Elias nodded. "On it."
Austin didn't move. His mind was already constructing a scenario where Clair became the next direct target. They wouldn't go after him first. That was too obvious. But his wife? His unborn child?
They would pay in blood if they tried.
Clair walked through the east garden later that afternoon, trying to calm her racing heart. The air was rich with the scent of blooming roses, but none of it reached her. Her mind was too full. Too heavy.
She'd done the right thing stepping in front of the cameras. But with the spotlight came the backlash. Social media had turned into a battleground. Everyone had an opinion about her. Some admired her strength. Others painted her as a traitor to her profession, a woman corrupted by power.
She sat down on the stone bench and placed a hand on her belly.
"Hey," she whispered, "I know things are scary right now. But your dad's strong. And I promise you, I am too. You're safe."
Clair didn't hear the soft crunch of footsteps behind her.
"Mrs. Montgomery."
She turned, startled. A young man in his early twenties stood near the hedge, holding a clipboard and wearing a staff uniform.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Didn't mean to frighten you. I'm one of the new groundskeepers."
Clair smiled faintly. "That's alright. Just lost in my head."
He nodded. "We all are these days."
She watched him curiously. Something about his eyes felt off. Calculating. But his tone was friendly enough.
"Take care, ma'am," he said before walking off down the path.
Clair didn't move.
Something inside her whispered that wasn't just a staff member. That was a test.
And someone had just marked her.
That night, Clair told Austin what happened.
"He said he was a groundskeeper," she explained. "But I've memorized most of the staff. He wasn't here last week."
Austin's face darkened. He motioned to Elias who pulled up staff records.
"No new hires have been cleared in the last ten days," Elias said. "Someone slipped him in."
Austin turned to her, voice low and calm.
"From now on, you do not walk alone. Not even inside this estate."
"I'm pregnant, Austin. Not made of glass."
"No. You're the reason I still have something to lose. I won't risk that."
She touched his hand.
"I'm not trying to be reckless. But I can't live in a bubble either."
He turned his palm upward and laced their fingers.
"Then we build a fortress that moves with you."
Across the city, in a penthouse overlooking the harbor, Isadora grinned as she reviewed the footage her mole had delivered.
Clair Montgomery in the garden. Vulnerable. Alone.
"You're just like I was," she whispered to the screen. "But you took my place. My crown. My king."
She turned to the man beside her. He was lean, quiet, and nearly invisible even in the same room. An expert at blending in. A double agent who once served Elias before defecting.
"She's the weakness," Isadora said. "Exploit her, and he crumbles."
The man nodded once.
"She's protected," he said. "But not untouchable."
Isadora leaned back with a smile.
"Then make her feel safe first. Let her believe she's won."
The next morning, Austin reviewed surveillance footage again. Clair was still asleep in their bed, curled up under a thick blanket, peaceful in a way he hadn't seen her in days.
He watched the footage of the false staff member. Rewind. Zoom. Frame by frame.
There.
A glimpse of ink under the sleeve. A tattoo.
Austin pressed a button and brought up the digital database.
Within seconds, the match appeared.
Aaron Klay. Former FBI asset. Turned. Last seen operating in covert contract work for known crime syndicates.
He called Elias into the room.
"Send a message," Austin said. "Let them know we see them now."
Elias raised an eyebrow. "What kind of message?"
"One that bleeds."
Clair stepped into the medical wing that afternoon for her weekly scan. Dr. Quinn was ready, clipboard in hand, smiling gently.
"Let's check on the little warrior," he said.
She lay back on the table and lifted her shirt. Cold gel touched her belly, and soon, the soft pulsing sound of a heartbeat filled the room.
"Perfect rhythm," Quinn said.
Clair exhaled. Relief washed over her.
But then Quinn hesitated. He adjusted the probe and looked closer.
"What is it?" she asked quickly.
He smiled again. "Nothing dangerous. But unexpected. You didn't tell me there was a history of twins in your family."
Clair blinked. "Wait. Twins?" Although she suspected due to the empty sac, but now it wasn't empty anymore.
He turned the screen to show her a second flicker.
"Two heartbeats. Two little warriors."
Clair's hand flew to her mouth.
"Oh my God."
Austin walked in seconds later, having received the alert.
"What happened?" he demanded.
Dr. Quinn turned with a smile.
"Nothing wrong, Mr. Montgomery. But congratulations. Looks like you're having two."
Austin froze. Then his eyes met Clair's.
Her shock mirrored his.
"I didn't even know," she whispered.
Austin moved to her side and took her hand.
"I did," he said with a small smirk. "Two babies strong enough to survive our world? Makes sense they're ours."
Clair burst out laughing through tears.
But the joy didn't last long.
That night, Elias stormed into the main hall.
"We found the mole," he said. "Aaron Klay. Formerly worked with the feds. He's been inside this estate for three days."
Austin's fists clenched.
"Where is he now?"
"Gone. Slipped out before we could grab him. But he left something behind."
Elias handed him a small flash drive.
Austin took it into the office and plugged it into a secure system.
One video file.
Clair.
In the garden.
A crosshair overlay blinking on her head.
Austin stared at the screen in silence.
Then, without saying a word, he picked up his phone.
"Activate Protocol Black. We end this."