Chapter 2 - The Morning Visitor
Dawn broke over Boston like a bruised eye. The storm had passed, leaving behind a bitter, biting cold and a thick layer of fog that clung to the iron gates of Blackwood Manor. Silas sat in his study, the infant—his daughter—sleeping soundly in a bassinet Mrs. Gable had hastily constructed from a padded velvet armchair.
At exactly 6:00 AM, the intercom buzzed. "Boss," a guard's voice crackled. "Julian is here. He’s complaining about the signal jammers."
"Let him in," Silas commanded, standing up and buttoning his suit jacket. He looked at Mrs. Gable, who was vigilantly hovering near the bassinet. "Keep the door locked. Do not make a sound."
Silas walked out to the grand foyer just as the heavy oak doors swung open. Julian Thorne stepped inside, shaking the morning dew from his expensive cashmere coat. He was three years younger than Silas, possessing the same sharp jawline and dark hair, but lacking the chilling, absolute stillness that made Silas a king. Julian always moved with a nervous, frantic energy.
"Silas, what the hell is going on?" Julian asked, forcing a strained smile. "Guards everywhere, jammers blocking my calls. Are we expecting an attack from the Rossi family?"
"Just a precaution," Silas lied smoothly, walking down the steps. He studied his brother's face. The twitch near his eye. The way his hands immediately retreated into his pockets. "You're up early."
"I have a flight to Geneva," Julian said quickly. "Just wanted to drop off the quarterly financial reports before I left. You know how the offshore accounts get this time of year."
"Geneva," Silas repeated softly. He walked closer, his sheer presence forcing Julian to take a half-step backward. "You didn't mention a trip to Europe yesterday."
"Spontaneous business," Julian deflected, swallowing hard. He glanced toward the grand staircase. "I... I noticed the lights were on in the west wing when I pulled up. Is everything alright?"
May you like
Silas’s blood turned to ice. Trust no Thorne.
"Everything is perfectly fine," Silas smiled, a terrifying expression that never reached his eyes. "Just doing some spring cleaning. Have a safe flight, Julian. We will talk the moment you return."
