Chapter 9 - A Serpent's Reach
Days turned into a week at the mountain safehouse. The routine was quiet, almost domestic, creating a bizarre contrast to the war raging in the outside world.
Elena cared for the baby—whom Julian had named Leo, after his grandfather—and watched him thrive. The child was gaining weight, his cheeks flushing with healthy color, his large hazel eyes following Elena and Julian whenever they walked into the room.
Julian spent his days securing the perimeter, cleaning his weapons, and making brief, encrypted satellite calls to his few remaining loyal capos. The news from the city was dark. Marcus had officially claimed that Julian Rossi was dead in the mansion fire, attempting to consolidate power over the syndicate.
One afternoon, while Elena was nursing Leo in the living room, Julian stood by the window, staring out into the misty forest.
"Julian?" Elena called out softly. "You haven't slept in two days."
Julian didn't turn around immediately. "Marcus is searching the state. He realized my body wasn't in the ashes. He knows I'm alive, and he knows someone took the child."
"Will he find us here?"
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"Not easily," Julian said, turning to face her. The warm afternoon light caught his dark hair and sharp jawline. "But staying on the defense is a slow death. Soon, I will have to go back to the city and end this."
Elena felt a sudden, sharp pang in her chest at the thought of him leaving. In just seven days, this dangerous, intense man had become her anchor.
