The Family house
666 Words
Caleb
The third attack was enough.
I stood by the window, watching my men inspect the damage outside the house.
Someone had tried to breach the eastern gate again.
Viktor wasn’t wasting time.
He knew Jane had survived, and sooner or later, he’d find a way to get to her.
“This house isn’t secure anymore,” Marcus said behind me.
I didn’t turn.
“I know.”
“So where are you taking her?”
I was silent for a moment.
Then I made my decision.
“Wick Mansion.”
Marcus went quiet.
“You’re going back?”
“Yes.”
“After all these years?”
I turned to him.
“Jane needs somewhere Viktor won’t expect.”
He nodded slowly.
“And your father?”
I picked up my jacket.
“I’ll deal with him.”
⸻
Jane sat quietly in the back seat as we drove.
She hadn’t asked many questions.
Maybe she was finally beginning to understand that whatever world she’d been dragged into wasn’t one where questions always got answers.
I glanced at her.
She looked exhausted.
“You’ll be safe where we’re going.”
She looked at me.
“Where are we going?”
“My family’s house.”
Her brows furrowed.
“Your family?”
“Yes.”
She looked out the window.
“Why?”
“Because the people looking for you won’t get near you there.”
She nodded slowly.
The rest of the drive passed in silence.
As the large iron gates of Wick Manor came into view, I felt something inside me tighten.
I hadn’t been here in years.
I had sworn I would never return.
Yet here I was.
The gates opened.
The mansion appeared ahead.
Jane stared at it through the window.
“This is your family’s house?”
“Yes.”
She looked at me again.
“You’re rich.”
I ignored that.
My attention was on the mansion.
People were already waiting outside.
My father never liked surprises.
And I had just brought one to his doorstep.
I leaned closer to Jane.
“When we get out of this car, I need you to do something.”
She turned toward me.
“What?”
“Pretend you’re my woman.”
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
“Just play along.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want anyone asking questions about why you’re here.”
She stared at me.
“And if they ask?”
“You’re with me.”
She hesitated.
“What if I can’t pretend?”
“You can.”
“How do you know?”
I looked at her.
“Because you’re already doing a good job pretending you’re not scared.”
She went quiet.
The car stopped.
I opened the door and stepped out.
Then I held my hand out to her.
She stared at it for a second before taking it.
The moment her fingers touched mine, I heard the mansion doors open.
My father stepped outside.
His expression changed.
“Caleb.”
I released Jane’s hand slowly.
“Father.”
He looked at her.
Then back at me.
“Who is she?”
I didn’t hesitate.
“My woman.”
Jane’s eyes flicked toward me.
My father’s expression remained unreadable.
“Your woman?”
“Yes.”
He studied her for a long moment.
Then his eyes returned to me.
“You disappear for years…”
He took another step down the stairs.
“…and return with a woman?”
I met his gaze.
“Things change.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“Apparently they do.”
He turned toward the house.
“Bring her inside.”
I looked at Jane.
She swallowed.
Then she stepped closer to me.
And together, we walked into the house I had spent years trying to forget.
I didn’t know what awaited us inside.
But one thing was certain.
For Jane’s safety, she had just become the most dangerous lie I’d ever told.
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