Outside the Lake House
The gravel crunched softly under the tires as James brought the black SUV to a slow stop beneath a thick canopy of pine trees. Beyond the brush, the lake shimmered quietly under the late afternoon light, but the house ahead stood still-its windows like blank, watchful eyes.
It was nearly 4:00 PM by the time they arrived. The lake house sat so far outside the city limits that
it had taken nearly three hours to reach from the urban center.
Monroe raised a pair of binoculars, sweeping slowly across the structure. “No movement. Curtains drawn. But the car matches Beckett’s-license plate lines up with what we pulled.”
James nodded grimly. “Then we’re in the right place.”
They didn’t exit.
Too risky.
Instead, they waited-watching, listening.
Five minutes later, the low rumble of engines echoed through the trees. Two matte-black SUVS came to a quiet halt behind them. The moment the doors opened, four men stepped out from one vehicle-dressed in tactical black, moving in fluid, practiced formation.
From the second SUV, a window rolled down smoothly.
A sharp-jawed man with slate-gray eyes leaned out, a cigarette dangling loosely from the corner of his mouth. His smirk was lazy, but the air around him tensed.
“Horton,” he said, voice casual-but carrying weight.
James stepped forward with a respectful bow. “Mr. Ashcroft.”
Ashcroft’s grin tugged slightly wider. “Been a while. Still running cleanup duty for the king?”
James’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t take the bait. “Yes, sir.”
Ashcroft exhaled smoke, his eyes shifting to the lake house in the distance.
“So. This is it?”
“Yes. Beckett’s vehicle is parked in the rear. No signs of guards. Just him and Ms. Thompson
inside, we assume.”
At the sound of Maya’s name, Ashcroft’s gaze sharpened.
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Chapter 24 Silent Perimeter 1
“Stand down, gentlemen,” he said, gesturing lazily to James and Monroe. “This one’s ours. I
promised Damien a gift.”
He winked, the smile never touching his eyes.
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He turned to his men, all shadows and steel. “Surround the property. Quiet. No gaps. Tree line to
shoreline. No one in. No one out. And no radio chatter unless it’s urgent.”
Without a word, the men moved-dissolving into the woods like phantoms.
The door opened and he stepped out-tall, lean, dressed in dark layers. The kind of man who
answered to no one and played by rules that didn’t exist on paper.
“Understood,” James said quietly, stepping back. He knew better than to interfere when Ashcroft
was involved.
The silence that followed felt thick-taut with the weight of what was coming.
Then, the final SUV arrived.
Sleek. Black. Deliberate in its approach.
It rolled to a stop beside Ashcroft’s vehicle. Before the driver could even get out, the rear door
opened.
Damien stepped out-composed and cold, the storm inside him wrapped in layers of tailored steel.
James moved to meet him immediately. “Sir.”
Damien’s eyes never left the house. “Where is she?”
Monroe answered at once. “Inside. We didn’t breach. Mr. Ashcroft advised we hold position.”
Damien’s gaze flicked to his oldest friend, now leaning against the SUV with arms crossed and the cigarette replaced by a blade-thin smile.
Ashcroft pushed off the vehicle with a low chuckle. “What-another boardroom full of boring suits
held you up?”
Damien didn’t blink. “And you spent the morning erasing names from ledgers no one dares
mention.”
Ashcroft whistled. “Touché.”
They exchanged a look-long, quiet. There was history there. Brotherhood, blood, and fire.
Then Damien’s focus snapped back to the lake house. “Any signs of struggle?”
Monroe gave a slight shake of his head. “None. It’s quiet. Too quiet.”
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Damien’s jaw tightened. The silence didn’t soothe him. It only stoked the fire burning in his chest.
Ashcroft followed his gaze. “We’ve got the perimeter sealed. My men are in the trees, dock, roofline-full coverage. But if he senses we’re here, he could panic. We wait for sundown. Less risk,
better control.”
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.