Episode Six
825 Words
The Moretti Estate
The drive to the Moretti Estate was silent.
Amara sat in the back seat of the black SUV, staring out the window as the city lights blurred past.
Everything had changed in a single night.
Her home.
Her family.
Her future.
And now she was heading toward the home of the man she was supposed to marry.
The thought made her stomach twist.
Across from her sat Lucien.
His attention remained fixed on the tablet in his hand.
Every few seconds, another message appeared on the screen.
Security updates.
Threat assessments.
Reports from his men.
The entire operation seemed to revolve around one thing.
Keeping her alive.
The realization should have comforted her.
Instead, it terrified her.
Because if someone as powerful as Lucien Moretti was this concerned...
Then Nikolai Volkov was far more dangerous than she had imagined.
"Stop staring."
Amara blinked.
Lucien didn't even look up.
"I wasn't staring."
"You were."
His calm certainty annoyed her.
She crossed her arms.
"You know, normal people usually thank someone before k********g them."
That finally earned her his attention.
Dark eyes met hers.
"You weren't kidnapped."
"Really?"
"No."
"You dragged me out of my house and put me in a heavily guarded vehicle."
His lips twitched.
"Protected."
"Kidnapped."
"Protected."
Amara rolled her eyes.
The blond man sitting beside Lucien laughed.
"Boss, she's got a point."
Lucien shot him a look.
The blond man immediately looked away.
"Sorry."
Amara frowned.
"Who are you, anyway?"
The man grinned.
"Adrian."
"Just Adrian?"
"That's all you need."
Lucien returned his focus to the tablet.
"Unfortunately."
Adrian placed a hand over his chest.
"That hurts."
For the first time all night, Amara nearly smiled.
Nearly.
An hour later, the SUV slowed.
The massive iron gates ahead began to open.
Amara's breath caught.
The Moretti Estate wasn't a mansion.
It was a fortress.
Stone walls stretched for what seemed like miles.
Security cameras covered every angle.
Armed guards patrolled the perimeter.
And beyond it all stood a breathtaking estate illuminated by golden lights.
It looked like something from a movie.
Beautiful.
Powerful.
Untouchable.
The gates closed behind them with a heavy clang.
The sound felt final.
As though a door to her old life had just slammed shut forever.
The SUV stopped at the front entrance.
A team of staff immediately appeared.
Some took luggage.
Others spoke quietly with security personnel.
Everything moved with military precision.
Lucien stepped out first.
Amara followed.
The cool night air brushed against her skin.
She looked up at the massive building.
"This is your house?"
Lucien glanced at it.
"It's one of them."
Her jaw dropped.
One of them?
How many houses did one person need?
Adrian laughed.
"Trust me. This isn't even his favorite."
Amara shook her head.
Rich people were insane.
Inside, the estate was even more impressive.
Marble floors.
Crystal chandeliers.
Grand staircases.
Artwork worth more than most people's homes.
Yet despite the luxury, the atmosphere felt cold.
Not because of the decor.
Because of the people.
Every guard seemed alert.
Every employee seemed cautious.
As if everyone was waiting for something bad to happen.
Lucien stopped near the staircase.
A woman in her fifties approached.
She wore a dark dress and carried herself with quiet authority.
"Welcome home, Mr. Moretti."
Lucien nodded.
"Marta."
The woman smiled warmly.
Then her gaze shifted to Amara.
Immediately softening.
"You must be Miss Rossi."
Amara blinked.
The kindness was unexpected.
"Yes."
Marta gently squeezed her hand.
"You must be exhausted."
Before Amara could answer, Lucien interrupted.
"She'll be staying in the east wing."
Marta's eyebrows rose.
The east wing?
Judging by everyone's reaction, that seemed important.
Adrian looked surprised.
Marta looked even more surprised.
Only Lucien remained unfazed.
"As you wish."
Amara made a mental note to ask about it later.
Something told her the east wing mattered.
A lot.
Suddenly, one of Lucien's security officers rushed into the foyer.
His face was grim.
"Boss."
The room instantly became tense.
Lucien turned.
"What happened?"
The guard swallowed.
"We found an intruder."
Every muscle in Amara's body tightened.
An intruder?
Inside the estate?
That should have been impossible.
Lucien's expression darkened.
"Who?"
"We don't know."
The guard hesitated.
"But he left something."
A familiar feeling of dread settled over Amara.
The guard handed Lucien a small silver envelope.
Lucien opened it.
His jaw clenched.
Hard.
Very hard.
Adrian noticed immediately.
"What's in it?"
Lucien didn't answer.
Instead, he handed the note to Amara.
Her hands trembled as she unfolded it.
A single sentence was written across the page.
No fortress can keep what's already mine.
— Nikolai
The blood drained from her face.
He had been here.
Somehow...
Nikolai Volkov had gotten close enough to leave a message inside Lucien Moretti's heavily guarded estate.
Which meant one terrifying thing.
He wasn't just watching anymore.
He was challenging Lucien directly.
And judging by the murderous look in Lucien's eyes...
The challenge had just been accepted.
- Writer
