The manor library was a place of tranquillity, wrapped in the soft glow of lamps and the deep shadows of the towering bookshelves.
The only sounds were the playful dialogue of a cartoon dragon from Rachel’s laptop and Leo’s contented giggles as he shoved a handful of popcorn into his mouth.
The two of them were nestled in a small, makeshift fort of blankets, pillows, and scattered toys, an island of simple joy in the vast, studious room.
Across from them, standing watch by the tall oak doors, were the two guards. Mark, the younger of the two, shifted his weight restlessly, his brow furrowed as he scanned the room, his usual serious expression deepened by unease.
"This alert is pissing me off," Mark muttered, his voice a low grumble. "The Boss has been on edge for weeks. I hope this i
